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ENGLISH 


THE     XIVTH     CENTURY» 


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ENGLISH 


OF 


THE    XIV™   CENTURY, 

ILLUSTRATED     BY     NOTES,     GRAMMATICAL 
AND    PHILOLOGICAL, 

CI)aucer'£;  prologue  antJ  toigljt's  Cale, 


DESIGNED    TO    SERVE    AS 


AN     INTRODUCTION    TO    THE    STUDY     OF 
ENGLISH    LITERATURE. 


BY 


STEPHEN   H.  CARPENTER,  A.M., 

PROFESSOR    OF     RHETORIC     AND     ENGLISH     LITERATURE     IN     THE     STATE 
UNIVERSITY    OF    WISCONSIN. 


BOSTON,    U.S.A.: 

PUBLISHED    BY    GINN    &   COMPANY. 

1896. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1S72.  x>y 

STEPHEN    H-    CARPENTER, 

In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Wasningtcm 


Ttpogbapuy  by  J.  S.  CusuiNG  &  Co.,  Boston,  U.S.A. 


Prbsswork  by  Ginn  &  Co.,  Boston,  U.S.A. 


PREFACE. 


This  book  has  been  prepared  with  the  design  of  afford- 
ing the  means  of  a  critical  study  of  the  Enghsh  Language 
to  a  younger  class  of  pupils  than  have  hitherto  been  able 
to  pursue  it  profitably  ;  and,  as  it  is  only  from  a  careful 
study  of  literature  that  a  thorough  acquaintance  with  a 
language  can  be  gained,  the  work  is  also  intended  to 
sei-ve  as  an  introduction  to  the  study  of  English  Literature. 
I  have  therefore  endeavored  to  render  the  Notes  and  Glos- 
sary sufficiently  full  to  remove  every  difficulty  that  would 
meet  a  student  of  average  ability  ;  intending,  if  erring 
on  either  side,  to  err  on  the  side  of  giving  too  much 
rather  than  too  little  assistance.  Particular  attention  has 
been  given  to  the  grammatical  construction,  in  the  belief 
that  the  true  way  to  study  a  language  is  not  from  the 
dead  rules  of  grammar,  but  from  the  living  forms  of  liter- 
ature. I  see  no  reason  why  the  English,  studied  with 
the  same  care  and  thoroughness  which  are  given  to  the 
ancient  classics,  may  not  afford  equal  mental  discipline  ; 
especially  if  an  author  be  studied  whose  archaisms  will 
prevent  the  common  error  of  mistaking  familiarity  with 
forms  and  idioms  for  a  critical  knowledge  of  the  structure 
of  the  language. 


vi  PREFACE. 

To  Chaucer  is  assigned  tiie  third  place  among  Eng- 
lish poets,  only  Shakspeare  and  Milton  ranking  above 
him  ;  and  yet,  to  the  mass  of  English  readers,  he  is  as 
much  a  stranger  as  yEschylus  or  Virgil,  the  slight 
archaism  of  his  language  being  sufficient  to  repel  all  but 
special  students.  It  is  no  credit  to  our  scholarship  that 
our  own  language  has  been  thus  neglected  in  our  higher 
courses  of  study,  whilst  such  ample  provision  has  been 
made  for  the  study  of  ancient  and  modern  tongues.  If 
this  volume  shall  serve  in  any  degree  to  awaken  a  more 
general  interest  in  the  critical  study  of  a  language  which 
need  not  fear  comparison  with  any,  either  ancient  or 
modern,  and  familiarize  our  students  with  an  author 
who  for  five  centuries  has  maintained  his  place  among 
the  great  poets  of  the  world,  its  object  will  be  fully 
realized. 

The  text  here  given  is  mainly  that  of  Morris,  in  the 
Clarendon  Press  Series,  to  whose  labors  I  am  much 
indebted  ;  occasionally,  however,  I  have  given  a  different 
reading,  for  reasons  given  in  the  Notes.  I  have  referred 
to  Morris's  edition  by  the  letter  M.  ;  to  Tyrwhitt's,  by 
the  letter  To 

My  first  design  was  to  include  extracts  from  the  Vision 
of  Piers  Plowman  ;  but  as  the  diction  of  that  poem  dif- 
fers so  materially  from  that  of  Chaucer,  —  representing 
rather  the  language  in  its  transitional  state,  —  I  have 
deferred  an  edition  of  that  Poem  until  some  future  time. 

University  of  Wisconsin, 
October,  1872. ' 


CONTENTS. 


iNTROnUCTION  ... 

The  Prologue     ...... 

The  Knightes  Tale  .... 

Notes  to  the  Prologue 
Notes  to  the  Knightes  Tale 
Glossarial  Index 


IX 

I 

26 

93 
191 

253 


INTRODUCTION. 


LIFE   OF  CHAUCER. 

Of  the  early  life  of  Geoffrey  Chaucer,  but  little  is 
known.  Even  the  date  of  his  birth  is  uncertain.  Ac- 
cording to  some  authorities  he  was  born  at  London  in 
the  year  1328;  by  others  this  event  is  placed  as  late 
as  1340.  His  writings  reveal  but  the  merest  glimpses 
of  his  personal  history,  so  that  the  only  authentic  data  for 
an  account  of  his  life  are  a  few  scattered  allusions  in  the 
public  records.  Both  Oxford  and  Cambridge  claim  the 
honor  of  his  education,  but  there  is  no  certain  evidence 
that  he  studied  at  either.  He  seems  to  have  been  of 
gentle  blood,  as  we  find  him  at  a  very  early  period  of  his 
life  attached  to  the  royal  household. 

In  1359,  Chaucer  joined  the  army  of  Edward  III., 
which  invaded  France  in  November  of  that  year.  In  the 
campaign  which  followed,  he  was  taken  prisoner,  but 
was  probably  released  upon  the  conclusion  of  the  Great 
Peace  in  1360.  In  1367  he  received  a  pension  of  twenty 
marks,  in  consideration  of  past  and  future  services. 
From  1370  to  13S0,  Chaucer  was  in  the  royal  service, 
being  employed  on  various  diplomatic  missions,  which 


X  INTRODUCTION. 

he  discharged  so  successfully  as  to  receive  additional 
tokens  of  favor.  In  the  prosecution  of  these  duties  he 
travelled  extensively,  visiting  the  Low  Countries,  and 
Italy,  —  then  the  resort  of  learned  men,  —  and  where  he 
formed  the  acquaintance  of  Petrarch,  then  in  the  full 
splendor  of  his  fame. 

Chaucer's  wife  was  Philippa  de  Roet,  whose  sister 
Katharine  was  afterwards  wife  of  John  of  Gaunt,  the 
founder  of  the  powerful  House  of  Lancaster,  to  whose 
fortunes  the  poet  was  thus  naturally  attached.  While 
Richard  11.  was  under  the  influence  of  this  powerful 
nobleman,  Chaucer  enjoyed  the  royal  favor,  but,  as  the 
Duke's  influence  waned,  the  poet  was  reduced  to  poverty. 
Richard  IL  came  to  the  throne  upon  the  death  of  his 
grandfather,  in  isyS-  Being  but  twelve  years  of  age, 
the  government  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  a  coimcil 
composed  of  his  three  uncles,  the  Dukes  of  Lancaster, 
York,  and  Gloucester.  The  insurrection  under  Wat 
Tyler  was  hardly  quelled,  when  a  contest  arose  between 
the  nobles,  which  did  not  end  until  Henry  Bolingbroke, 
son  of  John  of  Gaunt,  ascended  the  throne  from  which 
Richard  had  been  deposed  by  the  act  of  Parliament. 

For  a  time  Richard  continued  the  favor  which  Edward 
III.  had  shown  the  poet ;  in  1386,  however,  Chaucer 
was  dismissed  from  all  his  offices,  and  his  pensions  were 
reduced,  for  some  reason  which  has  not  been  very  satis- 
factorily explained.  It  is  probably  owing  to  this  fact  that 
we  possess  the  Canterbury  Tales,  —  the  work  by  which  he 
is  best  known.  His  active  and  cultivated  mind,  relieved 
from  the  cares  and  duties  of  public  life,  sought  a  more 
congenial  employment  in  literature,  which  he  had  already 
cultivated  to  a  degree  remarkable  for  that  age. 


INTRODUCTION.  XI 

Chaucer  was  admirably  fitted  for  his  future  eminence 
by  this  varied  life,  so  rich  in  adventure,  —  now  with  the 
chivalrous  hosts  which  conquered  the  armies  of  the 
French,  and  captured  their  king,  —  now  in  the  English 
Court,  at  the  head  of  which  was  Edward  III.  and  his  no 
less  illustrious  son,  the  Black  Prince,  —  now  in  diplo- 
matic service  abroad,  or  sitting  at  the  feet  of  the  greatest 
scholars  of  the  day,  —  now  an  interested  witness  of  the 
troublous  times  which  ended  in  the  deposition  and 
tragical  death  of  Richard  II.  ;  and  finally  in  aged  and 
honorable  retirement,  writing  from  the  rich  fund  of  his 
varied  experiences  these  inimitable  Tales,  which  still, 
after  the  lapse  of  five  centuries,  are  as  fresh  as  a  spring 
landscape  after  a  shower. 

On  the  return  of  Henry  Bolingbrokc  from  Spain,  Chau- 
cer had  once  more  a  powerful  protector.  His  grants 
were  restored,  and,  upon  the  accession  of  Henry  to  the 
throne,  largely  increased.  His  enjoyment  of  this  pros- 
perity, however,  was  brief.  In  1400,  a  little  more  than 
a  year  after  the  son  of  his  old  friend  had  been  raised  to 
the  throne,  the  poet  was  gathered  to  his  fathers,  full  of 
years  and  honors. 

GRAMMATICAL   OUTLINE. 

Chaucer's  English  is  substantially  that  of  the  present 
day.  It  differs  from  Anglo-Saxon  in  being  analytic  or 
uninflected,  although  it  may  fairly  be  questioned  whether 
the  spoken  Anglo-Saxon  ever  fully  conformed  to  the 
cumbrous  inflections  of  the  written  language.  The  fol- 
lowing brief  sketch  gives  an  outline  of  the  grammar  of 
Chaucer. 


Xll 


INTRODUGTION. 


NOUNS. 

Singular.  —  The  nominative  answers  to  the  modern 
nomniative.  The  genitive  answers  to  the  modern  pos- 
sessive, and  regularly  ends  in  es ;  sometimes  this  case 
takes  no  inflection,  and  sometimes  it  ends  in  e.  The 
dative  denotes  the  relation  expressed  by  the  prepositions 
to  or  for ;  it  regularly  ends  in  e.  The  accusative  an- 
swers to  the  modern  objective,  and  regularly  ends  like 
the  nominative. 

The  Plural  regularly  ends  in  es ;  remnants  of  the  old 
n-declension  arc  also  found  ;  some  nouns  take  no  inflec- 
tion in  the  plural. 


PARADIGMS. 

Sing.  NOM. 

lippe 

hors 

wyf 

lady 

assche 

man 

Gen. 

lippes 

horses 

wjfes 

ladje 

assches 

mannes 

Dat. 

lippe 

horse 

wjve 

ladje 

assche 

manne 

Ace. 

lippe 

hors 

wjf 

lady 

assche 

man 

Plur. 

lippes 

hors 

wyfes 

ladies 

asschen 

men 

ADJECTIVES 

3. 

Adjectives  have  two  forms, —  the  Definite  and  the  In- 
definite. The  Definite,  preceded  by  some  definitive  word, 
terminates  in  e ;  this  termination  is  usually  dropped  in 
words  of  more  than  one  syllable.  The  Indefinite  takes 
no  inflection  in  the  singular,  but  the  plural  ends  regu- 
larly in  <?,  which  is  usually  dropped  in  predicate  ad 
jectives,  and  in  words  of  more  than  one  syllable. 


INTRODUCTION.  XIU 

PRONOUNS. 

Sing^.  ist  Pers.  2d  Pers  id  Pers. 

NOM.  I,  Ic  thou  he  she  hit,  it 

Gen.  min,  mi       thin,  thi  his  hire,  hir       his 

^^'^"    \        me  the,  thee  him         hir,  hire       hit,  it 

Ace.    ) 

Plural. 

NoM.  we  ye  thei,  they 

Gen.  our,  oure  youre,  your  here 

DAT.  )        ^g  ^^^  hem 

Ace.  } 

The  usual  relative  is  the  indeclinable  that.,  but 
this  pronoun  is  often  combined  with  the  personal, 
thus  :  that  he  =  who  ;  that  his  =  whose  ;  that  him  = 
whom.  IVho,  which,  what,  are  regularly  interrogative, 
but  who  is  sometimes  used  indefinitely.  There  and 
where  are  sometimes  used  as  dative  neuters  of  the  anc 
what.  Me  and  men  are  used  indefinitely,  like  the  Ger- 
man man. 

VERBS. 

In  the  inflection  of  the  verb,  final  n  denotes  either  the 
plural,  the  infinitive,  or  the  past  participle.  The  so- 
called  regular  verbs  need  no  further  explanation.  The 
irregular  or  strong  verbs  change  the  vowel  in  the  pret- 
erite ;  some  make  a  further  change  in  the  preterite  plural : 
as,  pres.  inf.  smiten;  pret.  sing,  smoot,  pi.  smiten.  The 
subjunctive  in  both  tenses  takes  e  in  the  singular,  and  en 
in  the  plural ;  but  n  readily  drops.  The  imperative  sing- 
ular is  the  root  of  the  verb  ;  the  plural  usually  ends  in 
eth.  The  infinitive  ends  in  e^z;  the  «  frequently  drops. 
The  gerundial  infinitive,  or  dative  case  of  the  infinitive 
with  the  preposition  to,  occasionally  occurs,  as  to  scene, 
to  see. 


XIV  INTRODUCTION. 


PARADIGM. 


Pres.  Pret. 

/nd-                    Subj-                Imp-  Ind.                     Subj. 

Sing.  I.  helpe           helpe  halp            holpe 

2.  helpest        helpe           help  halp            holpe 

3.  helpeth        helpe  halp            holpe 
PI.            helpe  (n)     helpe  (n)    (2)  helpeth  holpe  (n)  holpe  (n) 
Inf.           helpe  (n)  Pres.  Part,  helpinge  P.  Part,  holpe  (n) 

Occasional  irregularities  will  be  fully  explained  in  the 
Notes  and  in  the  Glossary. 


PRONUNCIATION 

Vowels.  — A.  a.,  a  as  in  French  ;  ai  =  aA-ee,  as  aye; 
au  =  ah-00. 

E.  e  like  French  i;  S  as  in  met;  e  final  indicating 
oblique  cases,  feminine  gender,  plurals,  adverbs,  inflec- 
tions of  verbs,  to  be  lightly  pronounced ;  but  regularly 
elided  before  a  vowel  or  h;  also  in  the  pronouns  hire., 
here,  oure,  youre.  This  rule  is  liable  to  exceptions.  Ea  as 
in  break  ;  ee  =  e;  ei  =  ai;  eo  ::=  e ;  eu  =  m  /  ey  =  ay. 

I.     \z=.ee;  \  as  \w  pit. 

O.  o  as  in  oar ;  6  (i)  =  French  0 ;  (2)  =  li,  as  sotine ; 
(3)  =  00  as  in  move.  Oi  =  06-ee,  as  French  out ;  00  =  0. 
Ou  (i)  =  60  as  loud  (lood) ;  (2)  =  a,  as  ous  (us)  ;  (3)  = 
a-00,  as  soul  (sowl). 

U.     u  =  ^  ,•  «  as  in  but. 

Consonants  as  at  present,  except,  — 

Gh  =  German  ch,  sometimes  softened  to  a  "hissed^." 
This  sound  is  represented  in  the  text  by  an  italic  y,  or  gh. 
H  final  was  also  a  guttural,  first  softened  and  then  silent. 

If  it  is  found  too  difficult  to  give  these  sounds,  read  as 
in  modern  English,  adding  the  final  e  when  necessary  to 
the  metre. 


CHAUCER. 


CHAUCER. 


THE    PROLOGUE. 

Whan  that  Aprille  with  his  schowres  swootc 

The  thought  of  Marche  hath  perced  to  the  roote, 

And  bathed  every  veyne  in  swich  licour, 

Of  which  vertue  eiigendred  is  the  flour; 

Whau  Zephirus  eek  with  his  swete  breethe 

Enspired  hath  in  every  holte  and  heethe 

The  tendre  croppes,  and  the  yonge  sonne 

Hath  in  the  Ram  his  halfe  cours  i-ronne, 

And  smale  fowles  maken  melodie, 

That  slepen  alle  night  with  open  eyhe, 

So  priketh  hem  nature  in  here  corages :  — 

Thanne  longen  folk  to  gon  on  pilgrimages, 

And  palmers  for  to  seeken  straunge  strondes, 

To  feme  halwes,  kouthe  in  sondry  londes ; 

And  specially,  from  every  schires  ende 

Of  Engelond,  to  Canturbury  they  wende, 

The  holy  blisful  martir  for  to  seeke. 

That  hem  hath  holpen  whan  that  they  were  seeke. 

Byfel  that,  in  that  sesoun  on  a  day, 
In  Southwerk  at  the  Tabard  as  I  lay, 
Redy  to  wenden  on  my  pilgrimage 
To  Canturbury  with  fid  devout  corage. 
At  night  was  come  hito  that  hostelrie 


2  THE  PROLOGUE. 

Wei  nyne  and  twenty  in  a  companye, 

Of  sondry  folk,  by  aventure  i-falle  25 

In  felawschipe,  and  pilgryms  were  thei  alle, 

That  toward  Canturbury  wolden  ryde  ; 

The  chambres  md  the  stables  weren  wyde, 

And  wel  we  weren  esed  atte  beste. 

And  schortly,  whan  the  Sonne  was  to  reste,  jo 

So  hadde  I  spoken  with  hem  everychon, 

That  I  was  of  here  felawschipe  anon, 

And  made  forward  erly  for  to  ryse, 

To  take  our  weye  ther  as  I  yow  devyse.' 

But  natheles,  whiles  I  have  tyme  and  space,  35 

Or  that  I  forther  in  this  tale  pace, 

Me  thinketh  it  acordant  to  resoun. 

To  telle  yow  al  the  condicioun 

Of  eche  of  hem,  so  as  it  semede  me. 

And  which  they  weren,  and  of  what  degre  ;        ■  40 

And  eek  in  what  array  that  they  were  inne  : 

And  at  a  knight  than  wol  I  first  bygynne. 

A  Knight  ther  was,  and  that  a  worthy  man, 
That  from  the  tyme  that  he  first  bigan 
To  ryden  out,  he  lovede  chyvalrye,  45 

Trouthe  and  honour,  fredom  and  curtesie. 
Ful  worthi  was  he  in  his  lordes  werre. 
And  thei"eto  hadde  he  riden;  noman  ferre. 
As  wel  in  Cristendom  as  in  hethenesse, 
And  evere  honoured  for  his  worthinesse.  so 

At  Alisandre  he  was  whan  it  was  wonne, 
Ful  ofte  tyme  he  hadde  the  bord  bygonne 
Aboven  alle  naciouns  in  Pruce. 
In  Lettowe  hadde  he  reysed  and  in  Ruce, 
No  cristen  man  so  ofte  of  his  degre.  55 

In  Gernade  atte  siege  hadde  he  be 
Of  Algesir,  and  riden  in  Belmarie. 
At  Lieys  was  he,  and  at  Satalie, 


THE   PROLOGUE.  3 

Whan  they  were  wonne  ;  and  in  the  Gieete  see 

At  many  a  noble  arlve  hadde  he  be.  Co 

At  mortal  batailles  hadde  he  ben  fiftenc, 

And  tbughten  for  oure  feith  at  Tramassene 

In  lystes  thries,  and  ay  slayn  his  foo. 

Tliis  ilke  worthi  knight  hadde  ben  also 

Sometyme  with  the  lord  of  Palatye,  6s 

Ageyn  another  hethene  in  Tnrkye  : 

And  everemore  he  hadde  a  sovereyn  prys. 

And  though  that  he  was  worthy,  he  was  wys, 

And  of  his  port  as  meke  as  is  a  mayde. 

He  neverejj/it  no  vilonye  ne  sayde  70 

In  al  his  lyf,  unto  no  maner  wight. 

He  was  a  verray  perfi^>^t  gentil  knight. 

But  for  to  telle  j/ou  of  his  array, 

His  hors  was  good,  but  he  ne  was  nought  gay. 

Of  fustyan  he  werede  a  gepoun'^^-^ '^~  7S 

Al  bysmotered  with  his  habergeoun. 

For  he  was  late  yconie  from  his  viage, 

And  wente  for  to  doon  his  pilgrimage. 

With  him  ther  was  his  sone,  a_yong  Squyer, 
A  lovyere,  and  a  lusty  bacheler,  So 

With  lokkes  crulle  as  they  were  leyde  in  presse. 
Of  twenty  j/eer  of  age  he  was  I  gesse. 
Of  his  stature  he  was.of  evene  lengthe, 
And  wonderly  delyvere,  and  gret  of  strengthe. 
And  he  hadde  ben  somtyme  in  chivachie,  85 

In  Flaundres,  in  Artoys,  and  Ficardie, 
And  born  him  wel,  as  in  so  litel  space, 
In  hope  to  stonden  in  his  lady  grace. 
Embrowded  was  he,  as  it  were  a  mede 
Al  ful  of  fresshe  floures,  white  and  reede.  90 

Syngynge  he  was.  or  floj'tynge,  al  the  day ; 
He  was  as  fressh  as  is  the  moneth  of  May. 
Schort  was  his  goune,  with  sleeves  longe  and  wyde. 


4  THE  PROLOGUE 

VVel  cowde  he  sitte  on  hors,  and  faire  ryde. 

He  cowde  songes  make  and  wel  endite, 

Juste  and  eek  daunce,  and  wel  puitraye  and  write. 

So  bote  he  lovede,  that  by  nigbtertale 

He  sleep  nomore  than  doth  a  nigbtyngale. 

Cui"teys  he  was,  lowely,  and  servysable, 

And  carf  byforn  bis  tadur  at  the  table. 

A  2eman  baddc  be,  and  servantes  nomoo 
At  that  tynie,  for  him  luste  ryde  soo  ; 
And  be  was  clad  in  coote  and  hood  of  grene. 
A  shef  of  pocok  arwes  brighte  and  kene 
Under  his  belte  he  bar  ful  thriftily. 
Wel  cowde  be  drcsse  bis  takel  _yomanly  ; 
His  arwes  drowpcde  nou^/^t  with  fetlieres  lowe. 
And  in  his  bond  he  bar  a  mighty  bowe. 
A  not-heed  hadde  he  with  a  broun  visage. 
Of  woode-craft  wel  cowde  be  al  the  usage. 
Upon  his  arm  he  bar  a  gay  bracer, 
And  by  his  side  a  swerd  and  a  bokeler, 
And  on  that  other  side  a  gay  daggere, 
Harneysed  wel,  and  scharp  as  poynt  of  spere ; 
A  Cristofre  on  bis  brest  of  silver  schene. 
An  horn  he  bar,  the  bawdrik  was  of  grene  ; 
A  forster  was  he  sothly,  as  I  gesse. 

Ther  was  also  a  Nonne,  a  Prioresse, 
That  of  hire  smylyng  was  ful  symple  and  coy ; 
Hire  gretteste  ooth  ne  was  but  by  seynt  Loy ; 
And  scbe  was  cleped  madame  Englentyne. 
Ful  wel  scbe  sang  the  servise  divyne, 
Entuned  in  hire  nose  ful  semely  ; 
And  Frensch  scbe  spak  ful  faire  and  fetysly, 
After  the  scole  of  Stratford  atte  Bowe, 
For  Frensch  of  Parys  was  to  hire  unknowe. 
At  mete  wel  i-taught  was  scbe  withalle  ; 
Scbe  leet  no  morsel  from  hire  lippes  falle, 


THE   PROLOGUE.  $ 

Ne  wette  hire  fyngres  in  hire  sauce  deepe. 

Wei  cowde  sche  carle  a  morsel,  and  wel  keepe,  130 

That  no  drope  ne  fil  uppon  hire  breste. 

In  curtesie  was  set  fill  moche  hire  leste. 

Hire  overlippe  wypede  sche  so  clene, 

That  in  hire  cuppe  was  no  ferthing  sene 

Of  greece,  whan  sche  dronken  hadde  hire  draughte.       135 

Ful  semely  after  hire  mete  sche  raughte, 

And  sikerly  sche  was  of  gret  disport, 

And  ful  plesant,  and  amyable  of  port. 

And  peynede  hire  to  countrefete  cheere 

Of  court,  and  ben  estatlich  of  manere,  140 

And  to  ben  holden  digne  of  reverence. 

But  for  to  speken  of  hire  conscience, 

Sche  was  so  charitable  and  so  pitous, 

Sche  wolde  weepe  if  that  sche  sawe  a  mous 

Caught  in  a  trappe,  if  it  were  deed  or  bledde.  145 

Of  smale  houndes  hadde  sche,  that  sche  fedde 

With  rosted  fleissh,  or  mylk  and  wastel  breed. 

But  sore  wepte  sche  if  oon  of  hem  were  deed, 

Or  if  men  smot  it  with  a  yerde  smerte  : 

And  al  was  conscience  and  tendre  herte.  150 

Ful  semely  hire  wymple  i-pynched  was ;  '^'' 

Hire  nose  tretys  ;   hire  eyen  greye  as  glas  ; 

Hire  mouth  ful  smal,  and  therto  softe  and  reed ; 

But  sikerly  sche  hadde  a  fair  forheed. 

It  was  almost  a  spanne  brood,  I  trowe  ;  155 

For  hardily  sche  was  not  undergrowe. 

Ful  fetys  was  hire  cloke,  as  I  was  waar. 

Of  smal  coral  aboute  hire  arm  sche  baar 

A  peire  of  bedes  gauded  al  with  grene  ; 

And  theron  heng  a  broch  of  gold  ful  schene,  160 

On  which  wa§  first  i-write  a  crowned  A, 

And  after.  Amor  vine  it  omnia. 


0  THE  PROLOGUE. 

Another  Nonne  with  hire  hadde  sche, 

That  was  hire  chapelleyn,  and  Prestes  thre. 

A  Monk  ther  was,  a  fair  for  tlie  maistrie,  165 

An  out-rydere,  that  lovede  venerye  ; 
A  manly  man,  to  ben  an  abbot  able. 
Full  many  a  deynte  hors  hadde  he  in  stable : 
And  whan  he  rood,  men  mighte  his  bridel  heere 
Gynglen  in  a  whistlyng  wynd  as  cleere,  170 

And  eek  as  lowde  as  doth  the  chapel  belle. 
Ther  as  this  lord  was  Uepere  of  the  selle, 
The  reule  of  seynt  Maure  or  of  seint  Benevt, 
Bycause  that  it  was  old  and  somdel  streyt, 
This  ilke  monk  leet  olde  thinges  pace,  175 

And  held  after  the  newe  world  the  trace. 
We  yA?  nut  of  that  text  a  pulled  hen, 
That  seith,  that  hunters  been  noon  holy  men ; 
Ne  that  a  monk,  whan  he  is  reccheles 
Is  likned  to  a  fissch  that  is  waterles ;  180 

This  is  to  seyn,  a  monk  out  of  his  cloystre. 
But  thilke  text  held  he  not  worth  an  oystre. 
And  I  seide  his  opinioun  was  good. 
What  schulde  he  studie,  and  make  himselven  wood, 
Uppon  a  book  in  cloystre  alway  to  povvre  ;  jSs 

Or  swynke  with  his  handes,  and  laboure. 
As  Austyn  byt?     How  schal  the  world  be  served? 
Lat  Austyn  have  his  swynk  to  him  reserved. 
Therfore  he  was  a  pricasour  aright ; 

Greyhoundes  he  hadde  as  swifte  as  fowel  in  flight ;         190 
Of  prikyng  and  of  huntyng  for  the.  hare 
Was  al  his  lust,  for  no  cost  wolde  he  spare. 

1  saugh  his  sieves  purfiled  atte  honde 
With  grys,  and  that  the  fyneste  of  a  londe. 

And  for  to  festne  his  hood  under  his  chynnfe  195 

He  hadde  of  gold  y-wrought  a  curious  pynne : 


TTJE   PROLOGUE. 

A  love-knotte  in  the  grettere  ende  ther  was. 

His  heed  was  balled,  and  schon  as  eny  glas, 

And  eek  his  face  as  he  hadde  ben  anoynt. 

He  was  a  lord  ful  fat  and  in  good  poynt ; 

His  eyen  steepe,  and  rollyng  in  his  heede, 

Til  at  stemede  as  a  forneys  of  a  leede  ; 

His  bootes  sonple,  his  hors  in  gret  estate. 

Now  certeinly  he  was  a  fair  prelate  ; 

He  was  not  pale  as  a  for-pyned  goost. 

A  fat  swan  lovede  he  best  of  eny  roost. 

His  palfray  was  as  broun  as  is  a  berye,  / 

A  Frere  ther  was,  a  wantoun  and  a  merye, 
A  lymytour,  a  ful  solcmpne  man. 
In  alle  the  ordres  foure  is  noon  that  can 
So  moche  of  daliaunce  and  foir  langage. 
He  hadde  i-mad  ful  many  a  mariage 
Of  _yonge  wymmen,  at  his  owne  cost. 
Unto  his  ordre  he  was  a  noble  post. 
Ful  wel  biloved  and  famulier  was  he 
With  frankeleyns  over-al  in  his  cuntre. 
And  eek  with  worthi  wommen  of  the  toun : 
For  he  hadde  power  of  confessioun, 
As  seyde  himself,  more  than  a  curat. 
For  of  his  ordre  he  was  licentiat. 
Ful  sweetely  herde  he  confessioun, 
And  plesaunt  was  his  absolucioun  ; 
He  was  an  esy  man  to_yeve  penance 
Ther  as  he  wiste  han  a  good  pitance  ; 
For  unto  a  poure  ordre  for  to  j/ive 
Is  signe  that  a  man  is  wel  i-schrive. 
For  if  he  _)/af,  he  dorste  make  avaunt, 
He  wiste  that  a  man  was  repentaunt. 
For  many  a  man  so  hard  is  of  his  herte. 
He  may  not  wepe  although  him  sore  smerte. 
Therfore  in  stcde  of  wepyng  and  preycres, 


8  THE   PROLOGUE. 

Men  moot_yive  silver  to  the  pourc  freres. 

His  typet  was  ay  farsed  ful  of  knyfes 

And  pynnes,  for  to  y\\e  faire  wyfes. 

And  certaynli  he  hadde  a  mery  noote  ;  ass 

Wei  couthe  he  synge  and  pleyen  on  a  rote. 

Of  jt'cddynges  he  bar  utterly  the  prys. 

His  nekke  whit  was  as  the  flour-de-lys. 

Therto  he  strong  was  as  a  champioun. 

He  knew  the  tavernes  wel  in  every  toun,  240 

And  everych  hosteller  and  tappestere, 

Bet  than  a  lazer,  or  a  beggestere, 

For  unto  such  a  worthi  man  as  he 

Acordede  not,  as  by  his  faculte, 

To  han  with  sike  lazars  aqueyntaunce.  245 

It  is  not  honest,  it  may  not  avaunce. 

For  to  delen  with  no  such  poraille, 

But  al  with  riche  and  sellers  of  vitaille. 

And  overal,  ther  as  profyt  schulde  arise, 

Curteys  he  was,  and  lowely  of  servyse.  250 

Ther  nas  no  man  nowher  so  vertuous. 

He  was  the  beste  beggere  in  his  hous. 

For  though  a  widcwe  hadde  noght  00  schoo, 

So  plesaunt  was  his  /«  principio., 

2et  wolde  he  have  a  ferthing  or  he  wente.  255 

His  purchas  was  wel  better  than  his  rente. 

And  rage  he  couthe  and  pleyen  as  a  whelpe, 

In  love-dayes  couthe  he  mochel  helpe. 

For  ther  he  was  not  like  a  cloysterer, 

With  thredbare  cope  as  is  a  poure  scoler,  a6o 

But  he  was  like  a  maister  or  a  pope. 

Of  double  worstede  was  his  semy-cope, 

That  rounded  as  a  belle  out  of  the  presse. 

Somwhat  he  lipsede,  for  his  wantouncsse, 

To  make  his  Englissch  swete  upon  his  tunge ;  265 

And  in  his  harpyng,  whan  that  he  hadde  sunge, 


^r-'\j-,At\y-^j—  ■ 


Tin:   PROLOGUE. 

His  eyghen  twyiikcld  in  his  heed  aright, 
As  don  the  sterres  in  the  frosty  night. 
This  worthi  lyniytour  was  cleped  Huberd. 

A  Marchaunt  was  ther  with  a  forked  herd. 
In  niotteleye,  and  high  on  horse  he  sat, 
Uppon  his  heed  a  Fhumdrisch  bever  hat; 
His  botes  cUipsed  faire  and  fetysly. 
His  resons  he  spak  ful  solempnely, 
Sownynge  alway  thencres  of  his  wynnynge. 
He  wolde  the  see  were  kept  for  eny  thi nge 
Betwixe  Middelburgh  and  Orewelle. 
Wei  couthe  he  in  eschaunge  scheeldes  sella. 
This  worthi  man  ful  wel  his  wit  bisette  ; 
Ther  wiste  no  man  that  he  was  in  dette, 
So  estately  was  he  of  governaunce, 
With  his  bargayns,  and  with  his  chevysaunce. 
For  sothe  he  was  a  worthi  man  withalle, 
But  soth  to  sayn,  I  not  what  men  him  calle. 

A  Clerk  ther  was  of  Oxenford  also,  285 

That  unto  logik  hadde  longe  i-go. 
As  lene  was  his  hors  as  is  a  rake. 
And  he  was  not  right  fat,  I  undertake  ; 
But  lokede  hoi  we,  and  therto  soberly. 

Ful  thredbare  was  his  overeste  courtepy,  290 

For  he  hadde  geten  him  yit  no  benefice, 
Ne  was  so  worldly  for  to  have  office. 
For  him  was  lever  have  at  his  beddes  heede         '^^- 
Twenty  bookes,  clad  in  blak  or  reede, 
Of  Aristotle  and  his  philosophic,  295 

Then  robes  riche,  or  fithel,  or  gay  sawtrie. 
But  al  be  that  he  was  a  philosophre, 
Yet  hadde  he  but  litel  gold  in  cofre  ; 
t^But  al  that  he  mighte  of  his  frendes  hente,} 
On  bookes  and  on  Icrnyng  he  it  spente,  300 

And  busily  gan  for  the  sbules  preye 


lo  THE  PROLOGUE. 

Of  hem  that_yaf  him  whervvith  to  scoleye, 

Of  studie  took  he  most  cure  and  most  heede. 

Not  oo  word  spak  he  more  than  was  neede, 

And  that  was  seid  in  forme  and  reverence  30.S 

And  schort  and  quyk,  and  ful  of  high  sentence. 

Sownynge  in  moral  vertu  was  his  speche, 

And  gladly  wolde  he  lerne,  and  gladly  teche. 

A  Sergeant  of  Lawe,  war  and  wys, 
That  often  hadde  ben  atte  parv^ys,  310 

Ther  was  also  ful  riche  of  excellence. 
Discret  he  was,  and  of  gret  reverence  : 
He  semede  such,  his  wordes  weren  so  wise, 
Justice  he  was  ful  often  in  assise. 

By  patent,  and  by  pleyn  commissioun  ;  315 

For  his  science,  and  for  his  heih  renoun, 
Of  fees  and  robes  hadde  he  many  oon. 
So  gret  a  purchasour  was  nowher  noon. 
Al  was  fee  symple  to  him  in  eflecte. 

His  purchasyng  mighte  nought  ben  enfecte.  320 

Nowher  so  besy  a  man  as  he  ther  nas. 
And  yit  he  seemede  besier  than  he  was. 
In  termes  hadde  he  caas  and  domes  alle, 
That  fro  the  tyme  of  kyng  William  were  falle. 
Therto  he  couthe  endite,  and  make  a  thing,  325 

Ther  couthe  no  wight  pynche  at  his  writyng ; 
And  every  statute  couthe  he  pleyn  by  roote. 
He  rood  but  hoomly  in  a  medle  coote. 
Gird  with  a  seynt  of  silk,  with  barres  smale  ; 
Of  his  array  telle  I  no  lenger  tale.  330 

^     A  Frankeleyn  was  in  his  companye ; 
Whit  was  his  berde,  as  is  the  dayesye. 
Of  his  complexioun  he  was  sangwyn. 
Wei  lovede  he  in  the  morwe  a  sop  in  wyn. 
To  lyven  in  deljtc  was  al  his  wone,  33; 

For  he  was  Epicurus  owne  sone. 


THE  PROLOGUE.  II 

That  heeld  opynyoun  that  pleyu  delyt 

Was  verraily  felicite  perfyt. 

An  houshaldere,  and  that  a  gret,  was  he  ; 

Seynt  JuHan  he  was  in  his  countre.  340 

His  breed,  his  ale,  was  alway  after  oon  ; 

A  bcttre  envyned  man  was  nowher  noon. 

Withoute  bake  mete  was  nevere  his  hons. 

Of  fleissch  and  fissch,  and  that  so  plenty vous, 

Hit  snewede  in  his  hons  of  mete  and  drynke,  345 

Of  alle  deyntees  that  men  cowde  thynke. 

After  the  sondry  sesouns  of  the  _)/eer. 

So  channgedc  he  his  mete  and  his  sopcr. 

Fill  many  a  fat  partrich  hadde  he  in  mewe. 

And  many  a  brcm  and  many  a  luce  in  stewe.  350 

Woo  was  his  cook,  but-if  his  sauce  were 

Poynaunt  and  scharp,  and  redy  al  his  gere. 

His  table  dormant  in  his  halle  alway 

Stood  redy  covered  al  the  longe  day. 

At  sessiouns  ther  was  he  lord  and  sire.  355 

Ful  ofte  tyme  he  was  knight  of  the  schire.  C 

An  anlas  and  a  gipser  al  of  silk 

Heng  at  his  gerdel,  whit  as  morne  niylk. 

A  schirreve  hadde  he  ben,  and  a  countour ; 

Was  nowher  such  a  worthi  vavasour.  36a 

An  Haberdassher  and  a  Carpenter, 
A  Webbe,  a  Deyere,  and  a  Tapicer, 
VVeren  with  us  eek,  clothed  in  00  lyvere, 
Of  a  solempne  and  gret  fraternite. 

Ful  freissh  and  newe  here  gere  apiked  was  ;  365 

Here  knyfes  were  i-chaped  nat  with  bras. 
But  al  with  silver  wrought  ful  clene  and  wel, 
Here  gurdles  and  here  pouches  every  del. 
Wel  semede  ech  of  hem  a  fiair  burgeys. 
To  sitten  in  a_)'eldelialle  on  a  deys.  37° 

Everych  for  the  wisdom  that  he  can, 


12  THE  PROLOGUE. 

Was  schaply  for  to  ben  an  alderman. 

For  catel  hatkle  they  inough  and  rente, 

And  eek  here  wyfes  wolde  it  wel  assente ; 

And  elles  certeyn  were  thei  to  blame.  375 

It  is  right  fair  to  ben  yclept  mada77ie^ 

And  for  to  gon  to  vigiles  al  byfore, 

And  han  a  mantel  riallyche  i-bore. 

A  Cook  thei  hadde  with  hem  for  the  nones, 

To  boyle  chyknes  with  the  mary  bones,  384 

And  poLidre-marchaunt  tart,  and  galyngale. 

Wel  cowde  he  knowe  a  drau^//te  of  Londone  ale. 

He  cowde  roste,  and  sethe,  and  broille,  and  frie, 

Maken  mortreux,  and  wel  bake  a  pye. 

But  gret  harm  was  it,  as  it  thoughte  me,  385 

That  on  his  schyne  a  mormal  hadde  he, 

For  blankmanger  he  made  with  the  beste. 

A  ScHiPMAN  was  ther,  wonyng  fer  by  weste :    • 

For  ought  I  woot,  he  was  of  Dertemouthe. 

He  rood  upon  a  rouncy,  as  he  couthe,  390 

In  a  gowne  of  faldyng  to  the  kne. 

A  daggere  hangyng  on  a  laas  hadde  he 

Aboute  his  nekke  under  his  arm  adoun. 

The  hoote  somer  hadde  maad  his  hew  al  broun ; 

And  certeinly  he  was  a  good  felawe.  395 

Ful  many  a  draughte  of  wyn  hadde  he  ydrawe 

From  Burdeux-ward,  whil  that  the  chapman  sleep. 

Of  nyce  conscience  took  he  no  keep. 

If  that  he  faughte,  and  hadde  the  heigher  hand, 

By  water  he  sente  hem  hoom  to  every  land.  400 

But  of  his  craft  to  rekne  wel  his  tydes, 

His  stremes  and  his  daungers  him  bisides, 

His  herbergh  and  his  mone,  his  lodemenage, 

Ther  was  non  such  from  HuUe  to  Cartage. 

Hardy  he  was,  and  wys  to  undertake ;  405 

With  many  a  tempest  hadde  his  berd  ben  schake. 


THE   PROLOGUE.  13 

He  knew  wel  alle  the  havenes,  as  thei  were, 

From  Gootlond  to  the  cape  of  Fynestere, 

And  every  cryke  in  Bretayne  and  in  Spayne  ; 

His  barge  y-cleped  was  the  Magdehxyne.  410 

Ther  was  also  a  Doctour  of  Phisik, 
In  al  this  world  ne  was  ther  non  him  lyk 
To  speke  of  phisik  and  of  surgerye ; 
For  he  was  grounded  in  astronomye. 

He  kepte  his  pacient  wonderly  wel  415 

In  houres  by  his  magik  naturel. 
Wel  cowde  he  fortunen  the  ascendent 
Of  his  ymages  for  his  pacient. 
He  knew  the  cause  of  every  maladye, 
Were  it  of  hoot  or  cold,  or  moyst,  or  drye,  420 

And  where  engendred,  and  of  what  humour; 
He  was  averrey  parfi^/zt  practisour. 
Tiie  cause  i-knowe,  and  of  his  harm  the  roote, 
Anon  he_yaf  the  syke  man  his  boote. 

Ful  redy  hadde  he  his  apotecaries,  42s 

To  sende  him  drtigges,  and  his  letuaries, 
For  ech  of  hem  made  other  for  to  wynne  ; 
Here  frendschipe  nas  not  newe  to  begynne. 
Wel  knew  he  the  olde  Esculapius, 

And  Deiscorides,  and  eek  Rufus ;  43° 

Old  Ypocras,  Haly,  and  Galien  ; 
Serapyon,  Razis,  and  Avycen  ; 
Averrois,  Damascen,  and  Constantyn  ; 
Bernard,  and  Gatesden,  and  Gilbertyn. 
Of  his  diete  mesurable  was  he,  435 

For  it  was  of  no  superfluite. 
But  of  gret  norisching  and  digestible. 
His  studie  was  but  litel  on  the  Bible. 
In  sangwin  and  in  pers  he  clad  was  al, 
Lined  Mdth  taffata  and  with  sendal.  440 

And  jKJt  he  was  but  esy  of  dispence  ; 


14  THE  PROLOOUE. 

He  kepte  that  he  wan  in  pestilence. 
For  gokl  in  phisik  is  a  cordial, 
Therfore  he  lovede  gold  in  special. 

A  Good  WiF  was  ther  of  byside  Bathe,  445 

Bnt  sche  was  somdel  deef,  and  that  was  skathe. 
Of  cloth-makyng  she  hadde  snch  an  hannt, 
Sche  passede  hem  of  Ypres  and  of  Gaunt. 
In  al  the  parisshe  wyf  no  was  ther  noon 
That  to  the  offryng  byforn  hire  schulde  goon,  450 

And  if  ther  dide  certeyn  so  wroth  was  sche, 
That  sche  was  out  of  alle  charite. 
Hire  keverchefs  ful  fyne  weren  of  grounde  ; 
I  durste  swere  they  wey^>^eden  ten  pounde 
That  on  a  Sonday  were  upon  hire  heed.  455 

Hire  hosen  weren  of  fyn  Scarlett  reed, 
Ful  streyte  3'-teyd,  and  schoos  ful  nioyste  and  newe. 
Bold  was  hire  face,  and  fair,  and  reed  of  hewe. 
Sche  was  a  worthy  worn  man  al  hire  lyfe, 
Housbondes  at  chirche  dore  sche  hadde  fyfe,  460 

Withouten  other  companye  in  youthe  ; 
But  therof  needeth  nou^>-/^t  to  speke  as  nouthe. 
And  thries  hadde  sche  ben  at  Jerusalem  ; 
Sche  hadde  passed  many  a  straunge  streem  ; 
At  Rome  sche  hadde  ben,  and  at  Boloyne,  465 

In  Galice  at  seynt  Jame,  and  at  Coloyne. 
Sche  cowde  moche  of  wandryng  by  the  weye. 
Gattothed  was  sche,  sothly  for  to  seye. 
Uppon  an  amblere  esily  sche  sat, 

Ywympled  wel,  and  on  hire  heed  an  hat  470 

As  brood  as  is  a  bocler  or  a  targe  ; 
A  foot-mantel  aboute  hire  hipes  large, 
And  on  hire  feet  a  paire  of  spores  scharpe. 
In  felawschipe  wel  cowde  sche  lawghe  and  carpe. 
Of  remedyes  of  love  sche  knew  parchaunce,  475 

For  of  that  art  sche  couthe  the  olde  daunce. 


THE  PROLOGUE.  15 

"^      A  good  man  was  ther  of  religioun, 
And  was  a  ponre  Persoun  of  a  tonn  ; 
But  riche  he  was  of  holy  thought  and  wcrk. 
He  was  also  a  lerned  man,  a  clerk  48c 

That  Cristes  gospel  trewely  wolde  preche  ; 
His  parischens  devoutly  wolde  he  teche. 
Benigne  he  was,  and  wonder  diligent, 
And  in  adversite  ful  pacient ; 

And  such  he  was  i-proved  ofte  sithes.  485 

Ful  loth  were  him  to  curse  for  his  tythes, 
But  rather  wolde  hej^even  out  of  dowte, 
Unto  his  poure  parisschens  aboute. 
Of  his  offrynge,  and  eek  of  his  substaunce. 
He  cowde  in  litel  thing  han  suffisaunce.  490 

Wyd  was  his  parisch,  and  houses  fer  asonder, 
But  he  ne  lafte  not  for  reyne  ne  thonder. 
In  siknesse  nor  in  meschief  to  visite 
The  ferreste  in  his  parissche,  moche  and  lite, 
Uppon  his  feet,  and  in  his  bond  a  staf.  495 

This  noble  ensample  to  his  scheep  he_yaf, 
That  first  he  wroughte,  and  after  that  he  taughte, 
Out  of  the  gospel  he  tho  wordes  caughte, 
And  this  figure  he  addede  eek  therto. 

That  if  gold  ruste,  what  schal  yren  doo?  500 

For  if  a  prest  be  foul,  on  whom  we  truste, 
No  wonder  is  a  lewed  man  to  ruste  ; 
And  schame  it  is,  if  that  a  prest  take  kepe, 
A  [foul]  schepherde  and  a  clene  schepe  ; 
Wei  oughte  a  prest  ensample  for  to  _yive,  505 

By  his  clennesse,  how  that  his  scheep  schulde  lyve. 
He  sette  not  his  benefice  to  hyre, 
And  leet  his  scheep  encombred  in  the  myre, 
And  ran  to  Londone,  imto  seynte  Foules, 
To  seeken  him  a  chaunterie  for  soules,  510 

Or  with  a  bretherhede  to  ben  withholde  ; 


It)  THE   PROLOGUE. 

But  dwelte  at  hoom,  and  kepte  wel  his  folde. 

So  that  the  wolf  iie  made  it  not  myscarye. 

He  was  a  schepherde  and  no  niercenarie  ; 

And  though  he  iioly  were,  and  vertuous,  S'S 

He  was  to  sinful  man  nought  dispitous, 

Ne  of  his  speclie  daungerous  ne  digne, 

But  in  his  tecliing  discret  and  benigne. 

To  drawe  folk  to  heven  by  fairnesse, 

By  good  ensample,  was  his  busynesse :  520 

But  it  were  eny  persone  obstinat, 

WHiat  so  he  were,  of  high  or  lowe  estat, 

Him  wolde  he  snybbe  scharply  for  the  nones. 

A  bettre  preest  I  trowe  ther  nowher  non  is. 

He  waytede  after  no  pompe  and  reverence,  525 

Ne  makcde  him  a  spiced  conscience, 

But  Cristes  lore,  and  his  apostles  twelve. 

He  taughte,  and  first  he  folwede  it  himselve. 

With  him  ther  was  a  Ploughman,  was  his  brother. 
That  hadde  i-lad  of  dong  ful  many  a  fother,  530 

A  trewe  swynkere  and  a  good  was  he, 
Lyvynge  in  pees  and  perfi_^/^t  charitee. 
God  lovede  he  best  with  al  his  hoole  herte 
At  alle  tymes,  though  him  gamede  or  smerte. 
And  thanne  his  neighebour  right  as  himselve.  535 

He  wolde  threisshe,  and  therto  dyke  and  delve, 
For  Cristes  sake,  with  every  poure  wight, 
Withouten  hyre,  if  it  laye  in  his  might. 
His  tythes  payede  he  ful  faire  and  wel, 
Bothe  of  his  owne  swynk  and  his  catel.  540 

In  a  tabard  he  rood  upon  a  mere. 

Ther  was  also  a  Reeve  and  a  Mellere, 
A  Sompnour  and  a  Pardoner  also, 
A  Maunciple,  and  my  self,  ther  were  no  mo. 

The  Mellere  was  a  stout  carl  for  the  nones,  54c 

Ful  big  he  was  of  braun,  and  eek  of  boones ; 


THE   i'llOLOGUE.  1 7 

That  prevede  wel,  for  overal  ther  he  cam, 
At  wrastlyngc  he  wolde  have  alwey  the  ram. 
He  was  schort  schuldred,  brood,  a  thikke  knarre, 
Ther  nas  no  dore  that  he  nolde  heve  of  harre,  550 

Or  breke  it  at  a  rennyng  with  his  heed. 
His  herd  as  ony  sowe  or  fox  was  reed, 
And  therto  brood,  as  though  it  were  a  spade. 
Upon  the  cop  right  of  his  nose  he  hade 
A  werte,  and  theron  stood  a  tuft  of  heres,  555 

Reede  as  the  berstles  of  a  sowes  eeres. 
His  nose-thin-les  bkike  were  and  wyde. 
A  swerd  and  bocler  baar  he  by  liis  side, 
His  mouth  as  wyde  was  as  a  gret  forneys. 
He  was  a  jangler,  and  a  golyardeys,  560 

And  that  was  most  of  synne  and  harlotries. 
Wel  cowde  he  stele  corn,  and  tollen  thries ; 
And  yet.  he  hadde  a  thombe  of  gold  parde.  ' 
A  whit  cote  and  a  blewe  hood  werede  he. 
A  baggepipe  cowde  he  blowe  and  sowne,  56s 

And  therwithal  he  broughte  us  out  of  towne. 
A  gentil  Maunciple  was  ther  of  a  temple, 
Of  which  achatours  mighten  take  exemple 
For  to  be  wys  in  beyying  of  vitaille. 

For  whether  that  he  payde,  or  took  by  taille,  570 

Algate  he  waytede  so  in  his  achate. 
That  he  was  ay  biforn  and  in  good  state. 
Now  is  not  that  of  God  a  ful  fair  grace, 
That  such  a  lewed  mannes  wit  schal  pace 
The  wisdom  of  an  heep  of  lernede  men?  575 

Of  maystres  hadde  he  moo  than  thries  ten, 
That  were  of  lawe  expert  and  curious  ; 
Of  which  ther  were  a  doseyn  in  that  house, 
Worthi  to  ben  stiwardz  of  rente  and  lond 
Of  any  lord  that  is  in  Engelond,  sSo 

To  make  him  lyve  by  his  propre  good, 

2 


r 


1 8  THE   PROLOGUE. 

In  honour  detteles,  but-if  he  were  wood, 

Or  lyve  as  scarsly  as  hym  hst  desire  ; 

And  able  for  to  helpen  al  a  schire 

In  any  caas  that  mighte  falle  or  happe  ;  535 

And  y\\.  this  maunciple  sette  here  aller  cappe. 

The  Reeve  was  a  sklendre  colerik  man, 
His  berd  was  schave  as  neigh  as  evere  he  can. 
His  heer  was  by  his  eres  round  i-shorn. 
His  top  was  docked  lyk  a  preest  biforn.  sgo 

Ful  longe  wern  his  legges,  and  ful  lene, 
Y-lik  a  staf,  ther  was  no  calf  y-sene. 
Wei  cowde  he  kepe  a  gerner  and  a  bynne  ; 
Ther  was  non  auditour  cowde  on  him  wynne. 
Wei  wiste  he  by  the  droughte,  and  by  the  reyn,  595 

The  yeeldyng  of  his  seed,  and  of  his  greyn. 
His  lordes  scheep,  his  neet,  his  dayerie, 
His  swyn,  his  hors,  his  stoor,  and  his  pultrie. 
Was  holly  in  this  reeves  governynge. 

And  by  his  covenaunt  j^af  the  rekenynge,  eoo 

Syn  that  his  lord  was  twenti  j^eer  of  age  ; 
Ther  couthe  noman  bringe  him  in  arrerage. 
Ther  nas  baillif,  ne  herde,  ne  other  hyne, 
That  he  ne  knew  his  sleighte  and  his  covyne  ; 
They  were  adrad  of  him,  as  of  the  dethe.  605 

His  wonyng  was  ful  fair  upon  an  hethe, 
With  grene  trees  i-schadwed  was  his  place. 
He  cowde  bettre  than  his  lord  purchace. 
Ful  riche  he  was  i-stored  prively. 

His  lord  wel  couthe  he  plese  subtilly,  610 

Toj^eve  and  lene  him  of  his  owne  good. 
And  have  a  thank,  a  cote,  and  eek  an  hood. 
In  _youthe  he  lerned  hadde  a  good  mester ; 
He  was  a  wel  good  wrighte,  a  carpenter. 
This  reeve  sat  upon  a  ful  good  stot,  615 

That  was  al  pomely  gray,  and  highte  Scot. 


THE  PROLOGUE.  ig 

A  long  surcote  of  pers  uppon  he  hade, 

And  by  his  side  lie  bar  a  rusty  blade. 

Of  Northfolk  was  this  reeve  of  which  I  telle, 

Byside  a  toun  men  callen  Baldeswelle.  620 

Tukked  he  was,  as  is  a  frere,  aboute, 

And  evere  he  rood  the  hyndreste  of  the  route. 

A  SoMPNOUR  was  ther  with  us  in  that  place, 
That  hadde  a  fyr-recd  cherub3aies  face, 
For  sawceflem  he  was,  with  ey^/^en  narwe.  625 

With  skalled  browes  blake,  and  piled  herd; 

Of  his  visage  children  weren  aferd. 

Ther  nas  quyksilver,  litarge,  ne  brenistoon, 

Boras,  ceruce,  ne  oille  of  tartre  noon,  630 

Ne  oynement  that  wolde  dense  and  byte, 

That  him  mighte  helpen  of  his  whelkcs  white, 

Ne  of  the  knobbes  sittyng  on  his  chcekes. 

Wei  lovede  he  garleek,  oynouns,  and  ek  leekcs, 

And  for  to  drinke  strong  wyn  reed  as  blood.  6„ 

Thanne  wolde  he  speke,  and  crye  as  he  were  wood. 

And  whan  that  he  wel  dronken  hadde  the  wyn. 

Than  wolde  he  speke  no  word  but  Latyn. 

A  fewe  termes  hadde  he,  tuo  or  thre, 

That  he  hadde  lerned  out  of  som  decree ;  640 

No  wonder  is,  he  herde  it  al  the  day  ; 

And  eekj/e  knowen  wel,  how  that  a  jay 

Can  clepen  Watte,  as  wel  as  can  the  pope. 

But  who  so  couthe  in  other  thing  him  grope, 

Thanne  hadde  he  spent  al  his  philosophic,  645 

Ay,  ^uestio  quid  juris.,  wolde  he  crye. 

He  was  a  gentil  harlot  and  a  kynde  ; 

A  bettre  felawe  schulde  men  noght  fynde. 


650 


20  THE,  PROLOGUE. 

And  prively  a  fynch  eek  cowde  he  pulle. 
And  if  he  fond  owher  a  good  felawe, 
He  wolde  techen  him  to  han  non  awe 
In  such  a  caas  of  the  archedeknes  curs,  ess 

But-if  a  mannas  soule  were  in  his  purs ; 
For  in  his  purs  he  scholde  punyssched  be. 
'  Purs  is  the  erchedeknes  helle,'  quod  he. 
But  wel  I  woot  he  lyede  right  in  dede  ; 
Of  cursyng  oghte  ech  gulty  man  him  drede;  660 

For  curs  wol  slee  right  as  assoillyng  saveth ; 
And  also  war  of  him  a  signijicavit. 
In  daunger  hadde  he  at  his  owne  assise 
ThejKonge  gurles  of  the  diocise, 

And  knew  liere  counseil,  and  was  ai  here  red.  665 

A  garhmd  hadde  he  set  upon  his  heed, 
As  gret  as  it  were  for  an  ale-stake  ; 
A  bokeler  hadde  he  maad  him  of  a  cake. 
With  him  ther  rood  a  gentil  Pardoner 
Of  Rouncival,  his  frend  and  his  comper,  670 

That  streyt  was  comen  from  the  court  of  Rome. 
Ful  lowde  he  sang,  Com  hider,  love,  to  me. 
This  sompnour  bar  to  him  a  stif  burdoun, 
Was  nevere  trompe  of  half  so  gret  a  soun, 
This  pardoner  hadde  hear  as  yelwe  as  wex,  67.S 

But  smothe  it  heng,  as  doth  a  strike  of  flex ; 
By  unces  hynge  his  lokkes  that  he  hadde, 
And  therwith  he  his  schuldres  overspradde. 
Ful  thinne  it  lay,  by  culpons  on  and  oon, 
But  hood,  for  jolitee,  ne  werede  he  noon,  680 

For  it  was  trussed  up  in  his  walet. 
Him  thoughte  he  rood  al  of  the  newe  get, 
Dischevele,  sauf  his  cappe,  he  rood  al  bare, 
Suche  glaryng  ey^/Jen  hadde  he  as  an  hare. 
A  vernicle  hadde  he  sowed  on  his  cappe.  685 

His  walet  lay  byforn  him  in  his  lappe, 


THE  PROLOG UE,  21 

Bret-ful  of  pardoun  come  from  Rome  al  hoot- 

A  voys  he  hadde  as  smal  as  eny  goot. 

No  herd  ne  hadde  he,  ne  nevere  scholde  have, 

A.S  smothe  it  was  as  it  were  kite  i-schave ;  690 

Hut  of  his  craft,  fro  Berwyk  into  Ware, 

Ne  was  ther  such  another  pardoner. 

For  in  his  male  he  hadde  a  pilwebeer, 

Which  that,  he  seide,  was  oure  lady  veyl :  695 

He  seide,  he  hadde  a  gobet  of  the  seyl 

That  seynt  Peter  hadde,  whan  that  he  wente 

Uppon  the  see,  til  Jhesu  Crist  him  hente. 

lie  hadde  a  cros  of  latoun  ful  of  stones, 

And  in  a  glas  he  hadde  pigges  bones.  700 

But  with  thise  reliques,  whanne  that  he  fond 

A  poure  persoun  dwellyng  uppon  lond, 

Upon  a  day  he  gat  him  more  moneye 

Than  that  the  persoun  gat  in  monthes  tweye. 

And  thus  with  feyned  flaterie  and  japes,  705 

He  made  the  persoun  and  the  people  his  apes. 

But  trewely  to  tellen  atte  laste. 

He  was  in  churche  a  noble  ecclesiaste. 

Wei  cowde  he  rede  a  lessoun  or  a  storye, 

But  altherbest  he  sang  an  offertorie  ;  710 

For  wel  he  wyste,  whan  that  song  was  songe. 

He  moste  preche,  and  wel  afFyle  his  tonge. 

To  Wynne  silver,  as  he  right  wel  cowde  ; 

Therefore  he  sang  ful  meriely  and  lowde. 

Now  have  I  told_you  schortly  in  a  clause  715 

Thestat,  tharray,  the  nombre,  and  eek  the  cause 
Why  that  assembled  was  this  companye 
In  Southwerk  at  this  gentil  hostelrie. 
That  highte  the  Tabard,  faste  by  the  Belle. 
But  now  is  tyme  tojvow  for  to  telle  720 

How  that  we  bare  us  in  that  ilke  night, 


22  THE   PROLOGUE. 

Whan  we  wei"e  in  that  liostch'ie  alight; 

And  after  wol  I  telle  of  onre  viage, 

And  al  the  remenaunt  of  oure  pilgrimage. 

But  first  I  prayj'ou  of  your  curtesic^,  725 

That_ye  ne  rette  it  nat  my  vileinye, 

Though  that  I  speke  al  pleyn  in  this  matere, 

To  telle  _you  here  wordes  and  here  cheere  ; 

Ne  though  I  speke  here  wordes  properly. 

For  this  ye  knowen  also  wel  as  I,  730 

Whoso  schal  telle  a  tale  after  a  man, 

He  moot  reherce,  as  neigh  as  evere  he  can, 

Everych  a  word,  if  it  be  in  his  charge, 

Al  speke  he  nevere  so  rudelyche  and  large  ; 

Or  elles  he  moot  telle  his  tale  untrewe,  73s 

Or  feyne  thing,  or  fynde  wordes  newe. 

He  may  not  spare,  although  he  were  his  brother  ; 

He  moot  as  wel  seyn  00  word  as  another. 

Crist  spak  himself  ful  broode  in  holy  writ. 

And  wel  _ye  woot  no  vileinye  is  it.  74° 

Eek  Plato  seith,  whoso  that  can  him  rede, 

The  wordes  mote  be  cosyn  to  the  dede. 

Also  I  praye  you  to  for_yeve  it  me, 

Al  have  I  nat  set  folk  in  here  degre 

Here  in  this  tale,  as  that  thti  schulde  stonde ;  745 

My  witt  is  schort,  ye.  may  wel  understonde. 

Greet  cheere  made  oure  host  us  everichon. 
And  to  the  souper  sette  he  us  anon  ; 
And  servede  us  with  vitaille  atte  beste. 
Strong  was  the  wyn,  and  wel  to  drynke  us  leste.  750 

A  semely  man  oure  boost  he  was  withalle 
For  to  han  been  a  marschal  in  an  halle  ; 
A  large  man  he  was  with  eyghen  stepe, 
A  fairere  burgeys  was  ther  noon  in  Chepe  : 
Bold  of  his  speche,  and  wys  and  wel  i-taught,  7ss 

And  of  manhede  him  lakkede  right  naught. 


THE  PROLOGUE.  23 

Eek  therto  he  was  right  a  mery  man, 

And  after  soper  phiyen  he  bygan, 

And  spak  of  myrthe  amonges  othre  thinges, 

Whan  that  wc  hadde  maad  our  rekenynges  ;  760 

And  sayde  thus :  '  Lo,  lordynges,  trewely 

2e  ben  to  me  right  welcome  hertely  : 

For  by  my  troiitlie,  if  that  I  schal  not  lye, 

I  ne  saugh  this_yeer  so  mery  a  companye 

At  oones  in  this  herbergh  as  is  now.  76s 

Fayn  wolde  I  donj/ow  mirthe,  wiste  I  how. 

And  of  a  mirthe  I  am  right  now  bythought, 

To  doon  jKOU  eese,  and  it  schal  coste  nought. 

7h  goon  to  Caunturbury  ;  God  you  speede. 

The  blisful  martir  quyte  jKOu_youre  meede  !  770 

And  wel  I  woot,  as  ye  gon  by  the  weye, 

2e  schapen  j(/ow  to  talen  and  to  pleye  ; 

For  trewely  comfort  ne  mirthe  is  noon, 

To  ryde  by  the  weye  domb  as  a  stoon  ; 

And  therfore  wol  I  makenjKou  disport,  77s 

As  I  seyde  erst,  and  do  yon  som  confort. 

And  if  jvow  liketh  alle  by  oon  assent 

Now  for  to  standen  at  my  juggement ; 

And  for  to  werken  as  I  schal  jou  seye, 

To  morwe,  whan  _)/e  riden  by  the  weye,  780 

Now  by  my  fadres  soule  that  is  deed, 

ButjKe  be  merye,  smyteth  of  myn  heed. 

Hold  upJ^'oure  bond  withoute  more  speche.' 

Oure  counseil  was  not  longe  for  to  seche  ; 

Us  thoughte  it  nas  nat  worth  to  make  it  wys,  78s 

And  grauntede  him  withoute  more  avys, 

And  bad  him  seie  his  verdite,  as  him  leste. 

'  Lordynges,'  quoth  he,  '  now  herkneth  for  the  beste  ; 

But  taketh  it  not,  I  praye_)/ou,  in  disdayn  ; 

This  is  the  poynt,  to  speken  schort  and  playn,  79* 

That  ech  of  yow  to  schorte  with  youre  weie, 


24  THE  PROLOGUE. 

In  this  viage,  schal  telle  tales  tweye, 

To  Caunturburi-ward,  I  mene  it  so, 

And  hom-ward  he  schal  tellen  othei"  tuo, 

Of  aventures  that  whilom  han  bifalle.  795 

And  which  of  _yow  that  bereth  him  best  of  alle, 

That  is  to  seyn,  that  telleth  in  this  caas 

Tales  of  best  sentence  and  most  solas, 

Schal  han  a  soper  at_youre  alther  cost 

Here  in  this  place  sittynge  by  this  post,  800 

Whan  that  we  come  ageyn  from  Canturbury 

And  for  to  makenj)/ou  the  more  mery, 

I  wol  myselven  gladly  with  you  ryde. 

Right  at  myn  owen  cost,  and  heyouve  gyde. 

And  whoso  wole  my  juggement  withseie  805 

Schal  paye  al  that  we  spenden  by  the  weye. 

And  if  j/e  voiichesauf  that  it  be  so. 

Telle  me  anoon,  withouten  wordes  moo, 

And  I  wole  eiely  schape  me  therfore.' 

This  thing  was  graunted,  and  oure  othcs  swore  810 

With  ful  glad  herte,  and  prayden  him  also 

That  he  wolde  vouchesauf  for  to  doon  so, 

And  that  he  wolde  ben  onre  governour, 

And  of  oure  tales  jugge  and  reportour, 

And  sette  a  souper  at  a  certeyn  prys  ;  815 

And  we  wolde  rewled  be  at  his  devys, 

In  heygh  and  lowe  ;  and  thus  by  oon  assent 

We  been  acorded  to  his  juggement. 

And  therupon  the  wyn  was  fet  anoon  ; 

We  dronken,  and  to  reste  wente  echoon,  820 

Withouten  eny  lengere  taryinge. 

A  morwe  whan  the  day  bigan  to  sprynge, 

Up  roos  oure  host,  and  was  oure  alther  cok, 

And  gadrede  us  togidre  alle  in  a  flok, 

And  forth  we  riden  a  litel  more  than  paas,  825 

Unto  the  watery nge  of  seint  Thomas. 


THE   PllOLOaUE.  25 

And  there  oure  host  bigan  his  hors  areste, 

And  seycie  ;  '  Lordes,  hcrkeneth  if  _yow   Icste. 

2e  woote_youre  forward,  and  I  it_you  rccorde. 

If  even-song  and  morwe-song  accorde,  830 

Lat  se  now  who  schal  telle  first  a  tale. 

As  evere  I  moot  driiike  wyn  or  ale, 

Whoso  be  rebel  to  my  juggemenc 

Schal  paye  for  al  that  by  the  weye  is  spent. 

Now  drawet-li  cut,  er  that  we  forther  twynne  ;  835 

Which  that  hath  the  schorteste  schal  bygynne.' 

'  Sire  knight,'  quoth  he,  '  my  maister  and  my  lord. 

Now  (Irawetli  cut,  for  that  is  myn  acord. 

Cometh  ner,'  qnoth  he,  '  my  lady  prioresse  ; 

AndjKc.  sir  clerk,  lat  bej^oure  schamfastnesse,  840 

Ne  studieth  nat ;  ley  hand  to,  every  man.' 

Anon  to  drawen  every  wight  bigan, 
And  schortly  for  to  tellen  as  it  was. 
Were  it  by  aventure,  or  sort,  or  cas. 

The  soth  is  this,  the  cut  fil  to  the  knight,  845 

Of  which  ful  blithe  and  glad  was  every  wight; 
And  telle  he  moste  his  tale  as  was  resoun. 
By  forward  and  by  composicioun, 
As_)/e  han  herd  ;  what  needeth  wordes  moo? 
And  whan  this  goode  man  seigh  that  it  was  so,  850 

As  he  that  wys  was  and  obedient 
To  kepe  his  forward  by  his  fre  assent. 
He  seyde  :   '  Syn  I  schal  bygynne  the  game, 
What,  welcome  be  thou  cut,  a  Goddes  namel 
Now  lat  us  ryde,  and  herkneth  what  I  seye.'  855 

And  with  that  word  we  riden  forth  oure  weye  , 
And  he  bigan  with  right  a  merie  chere 
His  tale  anon,  and  seide  in  this  manere. 


THE   KNIGHTES   TALE. 


Whilom,  as  olcle  stories  tellen  us, 

Ther  was  a  duk  that  highte  Theseus  ; 

Of  Athenes  he  was  lord  and  governour, 

And  in  his  tyme  swich  a  conquerour, 

That  grettere  was  ther  non  under  the  sonne. 

Ful  many  a  riclie  contre  hadde  he  wonne  ; 

That  with  his  wisdam  and  his  chivahue 

He  conquerede  al  the  regne  of  Femynye, 

That  whilom  was  i-cleped  Cithea  ; 

And  weddede  he  the  queen  Ipolita, 

And  broughte  hire  hoom  with  him  in  his  contre 

With  moche  glorie  and  gret  solempnite, 

And  cek  hire_yonge  suster  Emelye. 

And  thus  with  victorie  and  with  melodye 

Lete  I  this  noble  duk  to  Athenes  ryde, 

And  al  his  host,  in  amies  him  biside. 

And  certes,  if  it  nere  to  longe  to  heere, 

I  wolde  ban  told  jow  fully  the  manere, 

How  wonnen  was  the  regne  of  Femenye 

By  Theseus,  and  by  his  chivalrye  ; 

And  of  the  grete  bataille  for  the  nones 

Bytwixen  Athenes  and  the  Amazones  ; 

And  how  aseged  was  Ypolita, 

The  faire  hardy  quen  of  Cithea  ; 


TIIK   KNIGIITES    TALE.  2 J 

And  of  the  feste  th:it  was  at  hire  wecklynge.  25 

And  of  the  tempest  at  hire  hoom  comynge  ; 

But  al  that  thing  I  mot  as  now  forbere. 

I  have,  God  wot,  a  hirge  feeld  to  ere, 

And  wayke  ben  the  oxen  in  my  plough, 

The  remenaunt  of  tlie  tale  is  long  inough  ;  30 

I  wol  not  lette  eek  non  of  al  this  rowte, 

Lat  every  felawe  telle  his  tale  aboute, 

And  lat  see  now  who  schal  the  soper  vvynne, 

And  ther  I  lafte,  I  wol  agayn  begynne. 

This  duk,  of  whom  I  make  mencioun,  35 

Whan  he  was  come  almost  unto  the  toun, 
In  al  his  wele  and  in  his  moste  pryde. 
He  was  war,  as  he  caste  his  eyg-he  aside, 
Wher  that  ther  knelede  in  the  hye  weye 
A  companye  of  ladies,  tweye  and  tweye,  40 

Ech  after  other,  clad  in  clothes  blake  ; 
But  such  a  cry  and  such  a  woo  they  make, 
That  in  this  world  nvs  creature  Ivvvnge,  -,.  i>  - 

That  herde  such  another  weymentynge". 
And  of  this  cry  they  nolde  nevere  stenten,  4? 

Til  they  the  reynes  of  his  bridel  henten. 
'  What  folk  ben  ye.  that  at  myn  hom  comynge 
Pertourben  so  my  feste  with  cryinge?' 
Qiiod  Theseus,  'have_ye  so  gret  envye 
Of  myn  honour,  that  thus  compleyne  and  crie?  s^ 

Or  who  hath  j'ow  misboden,  or  offended? 
And  telleth  me  if  it  may  ben  amended  ; 
And  why  that_ye  ben  clad  thus  al  in  blak?' 

The  eldeste  lady  of  hem  alle  spak, 
When  sche  hadde  swowned  with  a  dedly  chere,  s; 

That  it  was  routhe  for  to  seen  or  heere  ; 
And  seyde :  '  Lord,  to  whom  Fortune  hath  _yeven 
Victorie,  and  as  a  conquerour  to  lyven, 
Nought  greveth  us  _youre  glorie  and  honour  ; 


28  THE  KNIQHTES    TALE. 

But  we  beseken  mercy  and  socour.  6° 

Have  mercy  on  oure  woo  and  oure  distresse. 

Som  drope  of  pitee,  thurgh_youre  gentilnesse, 

Uppon  us  wrecchede  wommen  lat  thou  falle. 

For  certes,  lord,  ther  nys  noon  of  us  alle, 

That  sche  nath  ben  a  duchesse  or  a  queene  ;  6s 

Now  be  we  caytifs,  as  it  is  wel  scene  : 

Thanked  be  Fortune,  and  hire  false  wheel, 

That  noon  estat  assuretli  to  ben  weel. 

And  certes,  lord,  to  abidenj/oure  presence 

Here  in  the  temple  of  the  goddesse  Clemence  70 

We  han  ben  waytynge  al  this  fourtenight ; 

Now  help  us,  lord,  syth  it  is  in  thy  might. 

I  wrecche,  which  that  wepe  and  waylle  tlius, 

Was  whilom  wyf  to  kyng  Capaneus, 

That  starf  at  Thebes,  cursed  be  that  day  ;  7S 

And  alle  we  that  ben  in  this  array, 

And  maken  al  this  lamentacioun. 

We  losten  alle  oure  housbondes  at  the  toun, 

Whil  that  the  sege  ther  aboute  lay. 

And_yet  the  olde  Creon,  welaway  !  80 

That  lord  is  now  of  Thebes  the  citee, 

Fulfild  of  ire  and  of  iniquity. 

He  for  despyt,  and  for  his  tyrannye, 

To  do  the  deede  bodyes  vileinye. 

Of  alle  oure  lordes,  whiche  that  ben  i-slawe,  85 

Hath  alle  the  bodies  on  an  heep  y-drawe. 

And  wol  not  suflren  hem  by  noon  assent 

Nother  to  ben  y-buried  nor  y-brent. 

But  maketh  houndes  ete  hem  in  despite.' 

And  with  that  word,  withoute  more  respite,  9° 

They  fillen  gruf,  and  criden  pitously, 

'  Have  on  us  wrecchede  wommen  som  mercy, 

And  lat  oure  sorwe  synken  in  thyn  herte.' 

This  gentil  duk  doun  from  his  courser  sterte 


THE   KNiailTEB    TALE.  29 

With  herte  pitous,  whan  he  herde  hem  speke.  95 

Ilini  thoughte  that  his  herte  wokle  brcke, 

Whan  he  seyh  hem  so  pitous  and  so  maat, 

That  whilom  weren  of  so  gret  estat. 

And  in  his  aimes  he  hem  all  up  hente, 

And  hem  conforteth  in  ful  gooll  entente  ;  100 

And  swor  his  oth,  as  he  was  trewe  knight, 

He  wolde  don  so  ferforthly  his  miglit 

Upon  the  tyraunt  Creon  hem  to  wieke, 

That  al  the  people  of  Grece  scholde  speke 

How  Creon  was  of  Theseus  y-served,  105 

As  he  that  hadde  his  deth  ful  wel  deserved. 

And  right  anoon,  withoute  more  abood 

His  baner  he  desplayeth,  and  forth  rood 

To  Thebes-ward,  and  al  his  boost  bysyde  ; 

No  nerre  Athenes  wolde  he  go  ne  ryde,  no 

Ne  take  his  eese  fully  half  a  day. 

But  onward  on  his  way  that  nyght  he  lay  ; 

And  sente  anoon  Ypolita  the  queene, 

And  Emelye  hire  _yonge  suster  schene, 

Unto  the  toun  of  Athenes  to  dwelle  ;  115 

And  forth  he  ryt ;  ther  is  no  more  to  telle. 

The  reede  statue  of  Mars  with  spere  and  targe 
So  schyneth  in  his  white  baner  large, 
That  alle  the  feeldes  gliteren  up  and  doun  ; 
And  by  his  baner  was  born  his  pynoun  120 

Of  gold  ful  riche,  in  which  ther  was  i-bete 
The  Minatour  which  that  he  slough  in  Crete. 
Thus  ryt  this  duk,  thus  ryt  this  conquerour, 
And  in  his  boost  of  chevalrie  the  ilour, 
Til  that  he  cam  to  Thebes,  and  alighte  125 

Faire  in  a  feeld  ther  as  he  thoughte  fighte. 
But  schortly  for  to  speken  of  this  thing, 
With  Creon,  which  that  was  of  Thebes  kyng, 
He  faught,  and  slough  him  manly  as  a  knight 


30  THE  KNIGHTES    TALE. 

In  pleyn  bataille,  and  putte  the  folk  to  flight ; 

And  by  assaut  he  wan  the  cite  after, 

And  rente  doun  bothe  wal,  and  sparre,  and  rafter ; 

And  to  the  ladies  he  restorede  agayn 

The  bones  of  here  housbondes  that  were  slayn. 

To  don  exequies,  as  was  tho  the  gyse. 

But  it  were  al  to  longe  to  devyse 

The  grete  clamour  and  the  wa3'meritynge 

Which  that  the  ladies  made  at  the  brennynge 

Of  the  bodyes,  and  the  grete  honour 

That  Theseus  the  noble  conquerour 

Doth  to  the  ladyes,  whan  they  from  him  wciitc. 

But  schortly  for  to  telle  is  myn  entente. 

Whan  that  this  worthy  duk,  this  Theseus, 

Hath  Creon  slayn,  and  Thebes  wonne  thus, 

Stille  in  the  feelde  he  took  al  night  his  reste. 

And  dide  with  al  the  contre  as  him  leste. 

To  ransake  in  the  tas  of  bodyes  dede 
Hem  for  to  streepe  of  herneys  and  of  wede, 
The  pilours  diden  businesse  and  cure, 
After  the  bataile  and  disconfiture. 
And  so  byfil,  that  in  the  tas  thei  founde, 
Thurgh-girt  with  many  a  grevous  blody  wounde, 
TwojKonge  knightes  liggyng  by  and  by, 
Bothe  in  oon  amies,  wroght  ful  richely  ; 
Of  whiche  two,  Arcite  highte  that  oon. 
And  that  other  knight  highte  Palamon. 
Nat  fully  quyke,  ne  fully  deede  tliey  were, 
But  by  here  cootc-armures,  and  by  here  gere, 
The  Heraudes  knewe  hem  best  in  special, 
As  they  that  weren  of  the  blood  real 
Of  Thebes,  and  of  sistren  tuo  i-born. 
Out  of  the  taas  the  pilours  ban  hem  torn. 
And  ban  hem  caried  softe  unto  the  tente 
Of  Theseus,  and  he  ful  sone  hem  sente 


THE   KNIGHTEB    TALE.  3 1 

Tathencs,  for  to  dwelleii  in  piisoun  ics 

Perpetuelly,  he  nolde  no  raunceoun. 

And  whan  this  worthy  duk  hath  thns  i-doon, 

He  took  his  host,  and  horn  he  ryt  anoon 

With  laurcr  crowned  as  a  conquerour  ; 

And  there  lie  lyveth  in  joye  and  in  honour  -  170 

Terme  of  his  lyf ;  what  nedeth  wordes  moo? 

And  in  a  tour,  in  angwische  and  in  woo, 

Tliis  Palamon,  and  his  fehiwe  Arcite, 

For  everemo,  ther  may  no  gold  hem  quyte. 

Thus  passeth  _yeer  by  j^eer,  and  day  by  day,  175 

Til  it  fel  oones  in  a  morwe  of  May 
That  Emelie,  that  fairer  was  to  scene 
Than  is  the  lilie  on  hire  stalke  grene, 
And  frcsscher  than  the  May  with  floures  newe  — 
For  with  the  rose  colour  strof  hire  hewe,  180 

I  not  which  was  the  fayrere  of  hem  two  — 
Er  it  were  day,  as  was  hire  wone  to  do, 
Sche  was  arisen,  and  al  redy  dight ; 
For  May  wole  han  no  sloggardye  anight. 
The  sesoun  priketh  every  gentil  herte,  iSs 

And  maketh  him  out  of  his  sleepe  sterte, 
And  seith,  '  Arys,  and  do  thin  observance.' 
This  makede  Emelye  han  remembrance 
To  don  honour  to  May,  and  for  to  ryse. 
I-cIothed  was  sche  fresshe,  for  to  devyse  ;  190 

Hirej'elwe  heer  was  browded  in  a  tresse, 
Byhynde  hire  bak,  a_yerde  long  I  gesse. 
And  in  the  gardyn  at  the  sonne  upriste 
Sche  walketh  up  and  doun,  and  as  hire  liste 
Sche  gadereth  floures,  party  whyte  and  reede,  195 

To  make  a  sotil  gerland  for  hire  heede. 
And  as  an  aungel  hevenly  sche  song. 
The  grete  tour,  that  was  so  thikke  and  strong. 
Which  of  the  castel  was  the  cheef  dongecvan. 


32  THE  KMUHTEti    TALE. 

(Ther  as  the  knightes  vveren  in  prisoun, 
Of  which  I  tolde_yo\v,  and  telle  schal) 
Was  evene  joyn}ng  to  the  gardeyn  vval, 
Ther  as  this  Emely  hadde  hire  pleyynge. 
Bright  was  the  Sonne,  and  cleer  that  morwcn\  iige, 
And  Palamon,  this  wofnl  prisoner, 
As  was  his  wone,  by  leve  of  his  gayler 
Was  risen,  and  roniede  in  a  chambre  on  heigh, 
In  which  he  al  the  noble  cite  seigh, 
And  eek  the  gardeyn,  fnl  of  braunches  grene, 
Ther  as  the  fresshe  Emely  the  scheene 
Was  in  hire  walk,  and  romede  up  and  doun. 
This  sorvveful  prisoner,  this  Palamon, 
Gooth  in  the  chambre,  romyng  to  and  fro. 
And  to  himself  compleynyng  of  his  woo  ; 
That  he  was  born,  ful  ofte  he  seyde,  alas ! 
And  so  byfel,  by  aventure  or  cas. 
That  thurgh  a  wyndow,  thikke  of  many  a  barre 
Of  iren  greet,  and  squar  as  eny  sparre, 
He  caste  his  eyen  upon  Emelya, 
And  therwithal  he  bleynte  and  cryede,  a ! 
As  though  he  stongen  were  unto  the  herte. 
And  with  that  crye  Arcite  anon  up  sterte. 
And  seyde,  '  Cosyn  myn,  what  eyleth  tlie. 
That  art  so  pale  and  deedly  on  to  see  ? 
Wh}^  crydestow?  who  hath  the  doon  offence? 
For  Goddes  love,  tak  al  in  pacience 
Oure  prisoun,  for  it  may  non  other  be ; 
Fortune  hath  j'even  us  this  adversite. 
Soni  wikke  aspect  or  disposicioun 
Of  Saturne,  by  sum  constellacioun, 
Hath_)'even  us  this  ;  although  we  hadde  it  sworn  — 
So  stood  the  heven  whan  that  we  weie  born  — 
We  moste  endure  it :  this  is  the  schort  and  pleyn.' 
This  Palamon  answerde,  and  seyde  ageyn, 


THE   KNWHTEIS    TALE.  33 

'  Cosyn,  for  sothe  of  this  opynyouii  235 

Thou  hast  a  veyu  ymaginacioun. 
This  prisouu  causede  me  not  for  to  crye. 
But  I  was  hurt  right  now  thurghout  myn  cyhc 
Into  myn  herte,  that  wol  my  bane  be. 

The  fairnesse  of  that  hidy  that  I  see  240 

2bnd  in  the  gardyn  rome  to  and  fro, 
Is  cause  of  al  my  cryying  and  my  wo. 
I  not  whether  sche  be  womman  or  goddesse  ; 
But  Venus  is  it,  sothly  as  I  gesse.' 

And  therwithal  on  knees  adoun  he  fil,  245 

And  seyde  :  '  Venus,  if  it  be  _youre  wil 
2bw  in  this  gardyn  thus  to  transfigure, 
Biforn  me  sorweful  wrecche  creature. 
Out  of  this  prisoun  help  that  we  may  scape. 
And  if  so  be  my  destine  be  schape  250 

By  eterne  word  to  deyen  in  prisoun, 
Of  oure  lynage  have  sum  compassioun, 
That  is  so  lowe  y-brought  by  tyrannye.' 
And  with  that  word  Arcite  gan  espye 
Wher  as  this  hidy  romede  to  and  fro.  255 

And  with  that  sighte  hire  beaute  hurte  him  so, 
That  if  that  Palamon  was  wounded  sore,    >- 
Arcite  is  hurt  as  moche  as  he,  or  more. 
And  with  a  sigh  he  seyde  pitously  : 

'  The  freissche  beaute  sleeth  me  ^odeynly-  260 

Of  hire  that  rometh  yonder  in  the  place  ; 
And  but  I  have  hire  mercy  and  hire  grace. 
That  I  may  see  hire  atte  leste  weye, 
I  nam  but  deed  ;  ther  nys  no  more  to  seye. 
This  Palamon,  whan  he  tho  wordes  herde,  265 

Dispitously  he  lokede,  and  answerde  : 
'  Whether  seistow  this  in  ernest  or  in  pley  ?' 
'  Nay,'  quoth  Arcite,  '  in  ernest  by  my  fey. 
God  helpe  me  so,  me  lust  ful  evele  pleye.' 

3 


34  THE  KNIGHTES    TALE. 

This  Palamon  gan  knytte  his  browes  tweye  :  270 

•  It  neie,'  quod  he,  '  to  the  no  grot  honour, 

For  to  be  fals,  ne  for  to  be  traytour  . 

To  me,  that  am  thy  cosyn  and  thy  brother  / 

I-swore  ful  deepe,  and  ech  of  us  to  other. 

That  nevere  for  to  deyen  in  the  payne,  275 

Til  that  the  deeth  departe  schal  us  twayne, 

Neyther  of  us  in  love  to  hyndren  other, 

Ne  in  non  other  cas,  my  leeve  brother ; 

But  that  thou  schuldest  trewely  forthren  me 

In  every  caas,  and  I  schal  forthren  the.  zSo 

This  w^as  thyn  oth,  and  myn  also  certayn  ; 

I  wot  right  wel,  thou  darst  it  nat  withsayn. 

Thus  art  thou  of  my  counseil  out  of  doute. 

And  now^  thou  woldest  falsly  ben  aboute 

To  love  my  lady,  whom  I  love  and  serve,  285 

And  evere  schal,  unto  myn  herte  sterve. 

Now  certes,  false  Arcite,  thou  schalt  not  so. 

I  lovede  hire  first,  and  tolde  the  my  woo 

As  to  my  counseil,  and  my  brother  sworn 

To  forthre  me,  as  I  have  told  biforn.  290 

For  which  thou  art  i-bounden  as  a  knight 

To  helpe  me.  if  it  lay  in  thi  might,       > 

Or  elles  art  thou  fals,  I  dar  wel  sayn.' 

This  Arcite  ful  proudly  spak  agayn. 

'  Thou  schalt,'  quoth  he,  '  be  rather  fals  than  I.  29s 

But  thou  art  fals,  I  telle  the  utterly. 

YoY  par  ajjiour  I  lovede  hire  first  er  thow. 

What  wolt  thou  sayn.''  thou  wistest  not_yit  now 

Whether  sche  be  a  womman  or  goddesse. 

Thyn  is  afteccioun  of  holynesse,  loo 

And  myn  is  love,  as  to  a  creature  ; 

For  which  I  tolde  the  myn  aventure 

As  to  my  cosyn,  and  my  brother  sworn. 

I  pose,  that  thou  lovedest  hire  biforn ; 


THE  KNIOHTES    TALE.  35 

Wost  thou  nat  wel  the  olde  clerkes  sawe,  305 

That  who  schal_yeve  a  lover  eny  hiwe? 

Love  is  a  grettere  hivve,  by  my  pan,     \ 

Then  may  be_yeve  to  eny  erthly  man. 

Therfore  posityf  lawe,  and  such  decre, 

Is  broke  alday  for  love  in  ech  degree.  310 

A  man  moot  needes  love  maugre  his  heed. 

He  may  nought  flen  it,  though  he  schulde  be  deed, 

AI  be  sche  mayde,  or  widewe,  or  elles  wyf. 

And  eek  it  is  nat  likly  al  thy  lyf 

To  stonden  in  hire  grace,  no  more  schal  I ;  31s 

For  wel  thou  wost  thyselven  verraily, 

That  thou  and  I  been  dampned  to  prisoun 

Perpetuelly,  us  gayneth  no  raunsoun. 

We  stryve,  as  didc  the  houndes  for  the  boon, 

Tliey  foughte  al  day,  and  jit  here  part  was  noon  ;  320 

Ther  com  a  kyte,  whil  that  they  were  so  wrothe, 

And  bar  awey  the  boon  bitwixe  hem  bothe. 

And  therfore  at  the  kynges  court,  my  brother, 

Ech  man  for  himself,  ther  is  non  other. 

Love  if  the  list ;  for  I  love  and  ay  schal ;  325 

And  sothly,  leeve  brother,  this  is  al. 

Here  in  this  prisoun  moote  we  endure, 

And  everych  of  us  take  his  aventure.' 

Gret  was  the  stryf  and  long  bytwixe  hem  tweye, 
If  that  I  hadde  leyser  for  to  seye  ;  330 

But  to  theftect.  —  It  happede  on  a  day, 
(To  telle  itj/ow  as  schortly  as  I  may) 
A  worthy  duk  that  highte  Perotheus, 
That  felawe  was  unto  duk  Theseus 

Syn  thilke  day  that  they  were  children  lyte,  335 

Was  come  to  Athenes,  his  felawe  to  visite, 
And  for  to  pleye,  as  he  was  wont  to  do. 
For  in  this  world  he  lovede  noman  so : 
And  he  lovede  him  as  tenderly  agayn. 


aO;  THE   KNIGHTES    TALE. 

So  wel  they  lovede,  as  olde  bookes  sayn,  340 

That  whan  that  oon  was  deed,  sothly  to  telle, 
His  felawe  wente  and  soughte  him  doun  in  iielle  ; 
But  of  that  story  lyst  me  nought  to  write. 
7^  Duk  Perotheus  lovede  wel  Arcite, 

And  hadde  him  kuowe  at  Thebes  j^eer  by  j/eer  ;  345 

And  fynally  at  requeste  and  prayer 

Of  Perotheus,  withouten  any  raunsoun 

Duk  Theseus  him  leet  out  of  piisoun, 

Frely  to  gon,  wher  that  him  luste  overal, 

In  such  a  gyse,  as  I  _you  telle  schal.  ss" 

This  was  the  forward,  playnly  for  tendite, 

Bitwixe  Theseus  and  him  Arcite  : 

That  if  so  were,  that  Arcite  were  yfounde 

Evere  in  his  lyf,  by  daye  or  night,  o  stound 

In  eny  contre  of  this  Theseus,  355 

And  he  were  caught,  it  was  acorded  thus, 

That  with  a  swerd  he  scholde  lese  his  heed  ; 

Ther  nas  noon  other  remedy  ne  reed, 

But  took  his  leeve,  and  horn  ward  he  him  spedde ; 

Let  him  be  war,  his  nekke  lith  to  wedde.  360 

How  gi"et  a  sorwe  suffreth  now  Arcite ! 

The  deth  he  feleth  thurgh  his  herte  smyte  ; 

He  weepeth,  weyleth,  cryeth  pitously  ; 

To  slen  himself  he  wayteth  pryvyly. 

He  seyde,  '  Alias  the  day  that  I  was  born !  365 

Now  is  my  prisoun  werse  than  biforn  ; 

Now  is  me  schape  eternally  to  dwelle 

Nought  in  purgatorie,  but  in  helle. 

Alias  !   that  evere  knew  I  Perotheus  ! 

For  elles  hadde  I  dweld  with  Th^eus  370 

I-fetered  in  his  prisoim  evere  moo.   * 

Than  hadde  I  ben  in  blisse,  and  nat  in  woo. 

Oonly  the  sighte  of  hire,  whom  that  I  serve, 

Though  that  I  nevere  hire  grace  may  deserve, 


THE  KNIGHTES    TALE.  37 

Wolde  han  sufficed  right  ynough  for  me.  375 

O  dere  cosyn  Palamon,'  quod  he, 

'  Thyn  is  the  victoire  of  this  avcnture, 

Ful  bhsfully  in  prisoun  maistow  (hue  ; 

In  prisoun  ?  certes  nay,  but  in  paradys ! 

Wei  hath  fortune  y-torned  the  the  dys,  ^Sn 

That  hast  the  siglite  of  hire,  and  I  tllfibsencc. 

For  possible  is,  syn  thou  hast  hire  presence, 

And  art  a  knight,  a  worthi  and  an  able, 

That  by  som  cas,  syn  fortune  is  chaungable, 

Thou  maist  to  thy  desir  somtyme  atteyne.  385 

But  I  that  am  exiled,  and  bareyne 

Of  alle  grace,  and  in  so  gret  despeir. 

That  ther  nys  erthe,  water,  fyr,  ne  eyr, 

Ne  creature,  that  of  hem  maked  is. 

That  may  me  helpe  or  doon  confort  in  this.  390 

Wei  oughte  I  sterve  in  wahhope  and  distresse  ; 

Farwel  my  lyf,  my  lust,  and  my  gladnesse. 

Alias,  why  playnen  folk  so  in  comune 

Of  purveance  of  God,  or  of  fortune, 

That_yeveth  hem  ful  ofte  in  many  a  gyse  395 

Wei  better  than  thei  can  hemself  devyse  ? 

Som  man  desireth  for  to  han  richesse. 

That  cause  is  of  his  morthre  or  gret  seeknesse. 

And  som  man  wolde  out  of  his  prisoun  fayn. 

That  in  his  hous  is  of  his  mayne'slayn.  40a 

Infinite  harmes  ben  in  this  mateere  ; 

We  witen  nat  what  thing  we  prayen  heere. 

We  faren  as  he  that  dronke  is  as  a  mows. 

A  dronke  man  wot  wel  he  hath  an  hous, 

But  he  not  which  the  righte  wey  is  thider,"Y  405 

And  to  a  dronke  man  ifie  wey  is  slider, 

And  certes  in  this  world  so  faren  we ; 

We  seeken  faste  after  felicite, 

But  we  gon  wrong  ful  ofte  trewely. 


38  THE  KNIGETES   TALE. 

Thus  may  we  seyen  alle,  and  namelyche  I,  410 

That  wend.e  and  hadde  a  gret  opinioun, 

ThatjKif  I  mighte  skape  fro  prisoun, 

Than  hadde  I  ben  in  joye  and  perfyt  hele, 

Ther  now  I  am  exiled  fro  my  wele. 

Syn  that  I  may  not  sen  _yow,  Emelye,  415 

I  nam  but  deed  ;  ther  nys  no  remed3'e.' 

Uppon  that  other  syde  Palamon, 
Whan  that  he  wiste  Arcite  was  agoon, 
Such  sorwe  he  maketh,  that  the  grete  tour 
Resowneth  of  his  jKollyng  and  clamour.  420 

The  pure  fettres  on  his  schynes  grete 
Weren  of  his  bittre  salte  teres  wete. 
'  Alias  ! '  quod  he,  '  Arcita,  cosyn  myn, 
Of  al  oure  strif,  God  woot,  the  fruyt  is  thin. 
Thow  walkest  now  in  Thebes  at  thi  large,  425 

And  of  my  woo  thou  _yevest  litel  charge. 
Thou  maist,  syn  thou  hast  wysdom  and  manhede, 
Assemblen  al  the  folk  of  oure  kynrede. 
And  make  a  werre  so  scharpe  on  this  cite, 
That  by  som  aventure,  or  soni  trete,  430 

Thou  mayst  have  hire  to  lady  and  to  wyf, 
For  whom  that  I  mot  needes  leese  my  lyf 
For  as  by  wey  of  possibilite, 
Syth  thou  art  at  thi  large  of  prisoun  free, 
And  art  a  lord,  gret  is  thin  avantage,  435 

More  than  is  myn,  that  sterve  here  in  a  kage. 
For  I  moot  weepe  and  weyle,  whil  I  lyve. 
With  al  the  woo  that  prisoun  may  mejKyve, 
And  eek  with  peyne  that  love  mej^eveth  also. 
That  doubleth  al  my  torment  and  my  wo.'  440 

Therwith  the  fyr  of  jelousye  upsterte 
Withinne  his  breste,  and  hente  him  by  the  herte 
So  wodly,  that  he  lik  was  to  byhokle 
The  box-tree,  or  the  asschen  deede  and  colde. 


THE  KNIQHTES   TALE.  39 

Tho  seyde  he  :  '  O  cruel  goddes,  that  governe  445 

This  world  with  byndyng  of  jKOure  word  eterne, 

And  writen  in  the  table  of  athamaunte 

2oure  parlement,  and  _youre  eterne  graunte  ! 

What  is  mankynde  more  untoj/ow  holde 

Than  is  the  schecp,  that  rouketh  in  the  folde?  450 

For  slayn  is  man  right  as  another  beest, 

And  dwelleth  eek  in  prisoun  and  arreest, 

And  hath  seknesse,  and  greet  adversite, 

And  ofte  tymes  gilteles,  parde. 

What  governaunce  is  in  this  prescience,  455 

That  gilteles  tormenteth  innocence? 

And  _yet  encreceth  this  al  my  penaunce, 

That  man  is  bounden  to  his  observaunce 

For  Goddes  sake  to  letten  of  his  wille, 

Ther  as  a  beest  may  al  his  lust  fulfillc.  60 

And  whan  a  beest  is  deed,  he  hath  no  peyne ; 

But  man  after  his  deth  moot  wepe  and  pleyne, 

Though  in  this  world  he  have  care  and  woo: 

Withouten  doute  it  may  stonde  so. 

The  answere  of  this  I  lete  to  divinis,  465 

But  wel  I  woot,  that  in  this  world  gret  pyne  is. 

Alias  !  I  se  a  serpent  or  a  theef, 

That  many  a  trewe  man  hath  doon  mescheef, 

Gon  at  his  large,  and  wher  him  lust  may  turne. 

But  I  moot  ben  in  prisoun  thurgh  Saturnc,  470 

And  eek  thurgh  Juno,  jalous  and  eek  wood, 

That  hath  destroyed  wel  neyh  al  the  blood 

Of  Thebes,  with  his  waste  walles  wyde. 

And  Venus  sleeth  me  on  that  other  syde 

For  jelousye,  and  fere  of  him  Arcyte.'  475 

Now  wol  I  stynte  of  Palamon  a  lite. 
And  lete  him  in  his  prisoun  stille  dwelle. 
And  of  Arcita  forth  I  wol  yow  telle. 
The  somer  passeth,  and  the  nightes  longe 


40  THE  KNIGHTES   TALE. 

Encrescen  double  wise  the  peynes  stronge  480 

Bothe  of  the  lover  and  the  prisoner. 

I  noot  which  hath  the  wofullere  myster. 

For  schortly  for  to  seyn,  this  Palamon 

Perpetuelly  is  dampned  to  prisoun, 

In  cheynes  and  in  fettres  to  be  deed  ;  485 

And  Arcite  is  exiled  upon  his  heed 

For  evere  mo  as  out  of  that  centre, 

Ne  nevere  mo  he  schal  his  lady  see. 

2ow  loveres  axe  I  now  this  question, 

Who  hath  the  worse,  Arcite  or  Palamon.?  490 

That  on  may  se  his  lady  day  by  day, 

But  in  prisoun  he  moste  dwelle  alway. 

That  other  wher  him  lust  may  ryde  or  go, 

But  seen  his  lady  schal  he  nevere  mo. 

Now  deemeth  as_you  luste,  j>/e  that  can,  49"; 

For  I  wol  telle  forth  as  I  bigan. 

Whan  that  Arcite  to  Thebes  comen  was, 
Ful  ofte  a  day  he  swelte  and  seyde  alas. 
For  seen  his  lady  schal  he  nevere  mo. 
And  schortly  to  concluden  al  his  wo,  500 

So  moche  sorwe  hadde  nevere  creature, 
That  is  or  schal  whil  that  the  world  may  dure. 
His  sleep,  his  mete,  his  drynk  is  him  byraft, 
That  lene  he  wex,  and  drye  as  is  a  schaft. 
His  eyen  hoi  we,  and  grisly  to  biholde  ;  505 

His  hewe  falwe,  and  pale  as  asschen  colde, 
And  solitary  he  was,  and  evere  alone, 
And  waillyng  al  the  night,  making  his  moone. 
And  if  he  herde  song  or  instrument. 

Then  wolde  he  wepe,  he  mighte  nought  be  stent ;  510 

So  feble  eek  were  his  spirites,  and  so  lowe. 
And  chaunged  so,  that  no  man  couthe  knowe 
His  speche  nother  his  vois,  though  men  it  herde. 
And  in  his  geere,  for  al  the  world  he  ferde 


THE  KNI0HTE8    TALE.  41 

Nought  oonly  lyke  the  lovers  maladye  515 

Of  Hereos,  but  rather  lik  manye 

Engendred  of  humour  mehxncolyk, 

Byforen  in  his  selle  fantastyk. 

And  schortly  turned  was  al  up-so-doun 

liothe  habyt  and  eek  disposicioun  520 

Of  him,  this  woful  lovere  davm  Arcitc. 

What  schulde  I  alday  of  his  wo  endite? 

Whan  he  endured  hadde  aj^eer  or  tuoo 

This  cruel  torment,  and  this  peyne  and  woo, 

At  Thebes,  in  his  contre,  as  I  seyde,  S2'; 

Upon  a  night  in  sleep  as  he  him  leyde, 

Him  thoughte  how  that  the  wenged  god  Mcrcurie 

Byforn  him  stood,  and  bad  him  to  be  murye. 

His  slepy_)/erde  in  bond  he  bar  uprighte  ; 

An  hat  he  werede  upon  his  heres  brightc.  530 

Arrayed  was  this  god  (as  he  took  keepe) 

As  he  was  whan  that  Argous  took  his  sleepc  ; 

And  seyde  him  thus  :  '  To  Athenes  schalt  thou  wende  ; 

Ther  is  the  schapen  of  thy  wo  an  ende.' 

And  with  that  word  Arcite  wook  and  sterte.  535 

'  Now  trewely  how  sore  that  me  smerte.' 

Qiiod  he,  '  to  Athenes  ri^//t  now  wol  I  fare  ; 

Ne  for  the  drede  of  deth  schal  I  not  spare 

To  see  my  lady,  that  I  love  and  sei've  ; 

In  hire  presence  I  recche  nat  to  sterve.'  540 

And  with  that  word  he  caughte  a  gret  myrour, 

And  saugh  that  chaunged  was  al  his  colour, 

And  saugh  his  visage  al  in  another  kynde. 

And  right  anoon  it  ran  him  into  mynde, 

That  sith  his  face  was  so  disfigured  >;45 

Of  maladie  the  which  he  hadde  endured. 

He  mighte  wel,  if  that  he  bar  him  lowe, 

Lyve  in  Athenes  evere  more  imknowc. 

And  seen  his  lady  wel  neih  day  by  day. 


42  THE  KNIGHTE8    TALE. 

And  right  anon  he  chaungede  his  aray,  sso 

And  cladde  him  as  a  poure  laborer. 

And  al  alone,  save  oonly  a  squyer, 

That  knew  his  pryvyte  and  al  his  cas, 

Which  was  disgysed  povrely  as  he  was. 

To  Athenes  is  he  gon  the  nexte  way.  sss 

And  to  the  court  he  wente  upon  a  day, 

And  at  the  _yate  he  profrede  his  servyse. 

To  drugge  and  drawe,  what  so  men  wol  devyse. 

And  schortly  of  this  matier  for  to  seyn, 

He  fel  in  office  with  a  chamberleyn,  560 

The  which  that  dwellyng  was  with  Emelye  ; 

For  he  was  wys,  and  couthe  sone  aspye 

Of  ever}^  servaunt,  which  that  servede  here. 

Wei  couthe  he  hewe  woode,  and  water  here, 

For  he  was  jong  and  mighty  for  the  nones,  565 

And  therto  he  was  strong  and  b3gge  of  bones 

To  doon  that  eny  wight  can  him  devyse. 

A_)^eer  or  two  he  was  in  this  servise, 

Page  of  the  chambre  of  Emelye  the  brighte ; 

And  Philostrate  he  seide  that  he  highte.  570 

But  half  so  wel  byloved  a  man  as  he 

Ne  was  ther  nevere  in  court  of  his  degree. 

He  was  so  gentil  of  condicioun, 

That  thurghout  al  the  court  was  his  renouii. 

They  seyde  that  it  were  a  charite  S75 

That  Theseus  wolde  enhaunse  his  degree, 

And  putten  him  in  worschipful  servyse, 

Ther  as  he  mighte  his  vertu  exercise. 

And  thus  withinne  a  while  his  name  is  spronge 

Bothe  of  his  dedes,  and  his  goode  tonge,  580 

That  Theseus  hath  taken  him  so  neer 

That  of  his  chambre  he  made  him  a  squyer, 

And  jKaf  him  gold  to  mayntene  his  degree  ; 

And  eek  men  broughte  him  out  of  his  countre 


THE  KNIGHTES    TALE.  43 

Fro  jKeer  to  jeer  ful  pryvyly  his  i-ente  ;  585 

But  honestly  and  sleighly  he  it  spente, 

That  no  man  wondrede  how  that  he  it  hadde. 

And  threjeer  in  this  wise  his  lyf  he  hidde, 

And  har  him  so  in  pees  and  eek  in  werre, 

Ther  nas  no  man  that  Theseus  hath  derre.  59a 

And  in  this  blisse  lete  I  now  Arcite, 

And  speke  I  wole  of  Palamon  a  lyte. 

In  derknesse  and  horrible  and  strong  prisoun 
This  seven  _yeer  hath  seten  Palamoun, 
Forpyned,  what  for  woo  and  for  distresse.  595 

Who  feleth  double  sorwe  and  hevynesse 
But  Palamon?  that  love  destreyneth  so, 
That  wood  out  of  his  wit  he  goth  for  wo  ; 
And  eek  therto  he  is  a  prisoner 

Perpetuelly,  nat  oonly  for  a  _yeer.  600 

Who  couthe  ryme  in  Englissch  proprely 
His  martirdam  ?  for  sothe  it  am  nat  I  ; 
Therfore  I  passe  as  lightly  as  I  may. 
Hit  fel  that  in  the  seventhe  _yeer  in  May 
The  thridde  night,  (as  olde  bookes  scyn,  605 

That  al  this  storie  tellen  more  pleyn) 
Were  it  by  aventure  or  destine, 
(As,  whan  a  thing  is  schapen,  it  schal  be,) 
That  soone  after  the  mydnyght,  Palamoun 
By  helpyng  of  a  freend  brak  his  prisoun,  610 

And  fleeth  the  cite  faste  as  he  may  goo. 
For  he  hadde  j^ive  his  gayler  drinke  soo 
Of  a  clarre,  maad  of  a  certeyn  wyn. 
With  nercotyks  and  opye  of  Thebes  fyn, 
That  al  that  night  though  that  men  wolde  him  schake,    615 
The  gayler  sleep,  he  mighte  xxoug-ht  awake. 
And  thus  he  fleeth  as  faste  as  evere  he  may. 
The  night  was  schort,  and  faste  by  the  day, 
That  needes-cost  he  moste  himselven  hyde. 


44  THE  KNIOHTES    TALE. 

And  til  a  grove  faste  ther  besyde  620 

With  dredful  foot  than  stalketh  Palamoun. 

For  schortly  this  was  his  opynyoun, 

That  in  that  grove  he  wolde  him  hyde  al  day, 

And  in  the  night  then  w^olde  he  take  his  way 

To  Thebes-ward,  his  frendes  for  to  preye  625 

On  Theseus  to  helpe  him  to  werreye  ; 

And  schort|Hche,  or  he  wolde  lese  his  lyf, 

Or  wynnen  Emelye  unto  his  wyf. 

This  is  theflect  and  his  entente  playn. 

Now  wol  I  torne  unto  Arcite  agayn,  630 

That  litel  wiste  how  nyh  that  was  his  care, 

Til  that  fortune  hadde  brought  him  in  the  snare. 

Tlie  busy  larke,  messager  of  daye, 
Salueth  in  hire  song  the  morwe  graye  ; 
And  fyry  Phebus  ryseth  up  so  brighte,  635 

That  al  the  orient  laugheth  of  the  lighte. 
And  with  his  stremes  dryeth  in  the  greves 
The  silver  dropes,  hongyng  on  the  leeves. 
And  Arcite,  that  is  in  the  court  ryal 

With  Theseus,  his  squyer  principal,  640 

Is  risen,  and  loketh  on  the  merye  day. 
And  for  to  doon  his  observance  to  May, 
Remembryng  on  the  poynt  of  his  desir, 
He  on  his  courser,  stertyng  as  the  fir, 
Is  riden  into  the  feeldes  him  to  pleye,  645 

Out  of  the  court,  were  it  a  myle  or  tweye. 
And  to  the  grove,  of  which  that  I  jow  tolde, 
By  aventure  his  wey  he  gan  to  holde, 
To  maken  him  a  garland  of  the  greves. 
Were  it  of  woodebynde  or  hawthorn  leves,  65a 

And  lowde  he  song  ajj/ens  the  sonne  scheene : 
'  May,  with  alle  thy  floures  and  thy  greene. 
Welcome  be  thou,  wel  faire  freissche  May, 
I  hope  that  I  som  grene  gete  may.' 


THE  KNIGHTES    TALE.  45 

And  fro  his  courser,  with  a  lusty  herte,  655 

Into  the  grove  ful  hastily  he  sterte, 
And  in  a  path  he  roineth  up  and  doun, 
Ther  as  by  aventure  this  Palanioun 
Was  in  a  busche,  that  no  man  mighte  him  see, 
For  sore  afered  of  his  deth  was  he.  660 

Nothing  ne  knew  he  that  it  was  Arcite : 
God  wot  he  wolde  ban  trowed  it  ful  lite. 
f  But  soth  is  seyd,  goon  sithen  many  _)/eres, 

That  feld  hath  eyen,  and  the  woode  hath  eeres.^  ' 

It  is  ful  fair  a  man  to  bere  him  evene,  665 

For  al  day  meteth  men  at  unset  stevene. 

Ful  litel  woot  Arcite  of  his  felawe, 

That  was  so  neih  to  herken  al  his  sawc, 

For  in  the  busche  he  sytteth  now  ful  stille. 

Whan  that  Arcite  hadde  romed  al  his  fiUe,  670 

And  songen  al  the  roundel  lustily, 

Into  a  studie  he  fel  al  sodeynly, 

As  don  thes  lovers  in  here  queynte  geeres, 

Now  in  the  croppe,  now  doun  in  the  breres, 

Now  up,  now  doun,  as  boket  in  a  welle.  675 

Right  as  the  Friday,  sothly  for  to  telle. 

Now  it  schyneth,  now  it  rcyneth  faste, 

Right  so  can  gery  Venus  overcaste 

The  hertes  of  hire  folk,  right  as  hire  day 

Is  gerful,  right  so  chaungeth  sche  aray.  6So 

Selde  is  the  Fryday  al  the  wyke  i-like.  ,      ' 

Whan  that  Arcite  hadde  songe,  he  gan  to  sike'," 

And  sette  him  doun  withouten  eny  more  : 

'  Alas !'  quod  he,  '  that  day  that  I  was  bore  ! 

How  longe  Juno,  thurgh  thy  cruelte,  ess 

Wiltow  werreyen  Thebes  the  citee? 

Alias  !   i-brou^/;t  is  to  confusioun 

The  blood  royal  of  Cadme  and  Amphioun  ; 

Of  Cadmus,  which  that  was  the  lirste  man 


4^  THE  KNIGHTES   TALE. 

That  Thebes  bulde,  or  first  the  toun  bygan,  690 

And  of  that  cite  first  was  crowned  kyng, 

Of  his  lynage  am  I,  and  his  ofspring 

By  verray  lyne,  as  of  the  stok  ryal : 

And  now  I  am  so  caytyf  and  so  thral, 

That  he  that  is  my  mortal  enemy,  69s 

I  serve  him  as  his  squyer  povrely. 

And  j^et  doth  Juno  me  wel  more  schame, 

For  I  dar  nought  byknowe  myn  owne  name, 

But  |her  as  I  was  wont  to  bote  Arcite, 

Now  hoote  I  Philostrate,  nou^/5t  worth  a  myte.  700 

Alias  !  thou  felle  Mars,  alias  !  Juno, 

Thus  hath  yonre  ire  owre  kynredc  al  fordo, 

Save  oonly  me,  and  wrecched  Palamoun, 

That  Theseus  martyreth  in  prisoun. 

And  over  al  this,  to  sleen  me  utterly,  705 

Love  hath  his  fyry  dart  so  brennyngly 

I-styked  thurgh  my  trewe  careful  herte, 

That  schapen  was  my  deth  erst  than  my  scherte. 

2e  slen  me  with_youre  eyhen,  Emelye  ; 

2e  ben  the  cause  wherfore  that  I  dye.  710 

Of  al  the  remenant  of  myn  other  care 

Ne  sette  I  nou^//t  the  mounfaunce  of  a  tare. 

So  that  I  couthe  don  aught  to_youre  plesaunce.' 

And  with  that  word  he  fel  doun  in  a  traunce 

A  long  tyme  ;  and  afterward  he  upsterte  715 

This  Palamon,  that  \houg/ite  thurgh  his  herte 

He  felte  a  cold  swerd  sodeynliche  glyde  ; 

For  ire  he  quook,  no  lenger  nolde  he  byde. 

And  whan  that  he  hadde  herd  Arcites  tale, 

As  he  were  wood,  with  face  deed  and  pale,  72a 

He  sterte  him  up  out  of  the  bussches  thikke, 

And  seyde  :  '  Arcyte,  false  traitour  wikke, 

Now  art  thou  bent,  that  lovest  my  lady  so, 

For  whom  that  I  have  al  this  peyne  and  wo, 


THE  KNIOHTES   TALE.  47 

And  art  my  blood,  and  to  my  counseil  sworn,  725 

As  I  fill  ofte  have  told  the  heere  byforn, 
And  hast  byjaped  here  duk  Theseus, 
And  falsly  chaunged  hast  thy  name  thus  ; 
(    I  wol  be  deed,  or  elles  thou  schalt  dye.  / 

Thou  schalt  not  love  my  lady  Emelye,  730- 

But  I  wil  love  hire  oonly  and  no  mo  ; 

\  For  I  am  Palamon  thy  mortal  fo. 
And  though  that  I  no  v^epen  have  in  this  place, 
But  out  of  prisoun  am  y-stert  by  grace, 
I  drede  not  that  other  thou  schalt  dye,  735 

Or  thou  ne  schalt  not  loven  Emelve, 
Ches  which  thou  wilt,  for  thou  schalt  not  asterte.' 
This  Arcite,  with  ful  despitous  herte, 
Whan  he  him  knew,  and  hadde  his  tale  herd, 
As  fers  as  lyoun  pullede  out  a  swerd,  740 

And  seide  thus  :  '  By  God  that  sit  above, 
Nere  it  that  thou  art  sike  and  wood  for  love, 
And  eek  that  thou  no  wepne  hast  in  this  place, 
Thou  schuldest  nevere  out  of  this  grove  pace. 
That  thou  ne  schuldest  deyen  of  myn  bond.  745 

'  For  I  defye  the  seurte  and  the  bond  ^^ 

Which  that  thou  seyst  I  have  maad  to  the. '' 
What,  verray  fool,  think  w^el  that  love  is  fre  ! 
And  I  wol  love  hire  mawgre  al  thy  might. 
But,  for  as  muche  thou  art  a  worthy  knight,  750 

And  wilnest  to  dereyne  hire  by  bataylc. 
Have  heer  my  trouthe,  to  morwe  I  nyl  not  fayle, 
Withouten  wityng  of  eny  other  wight. 
That  heer  I  wol  be  founden  as  a  knight, 
And  bryngen  barneys  right  inough  for  the  ;  755 

And  ches  the  beste,  and'  lef  the  worste  for  me. 
And  mete  and  drynke  this  night  wil  I  brynge 
Inough  for  the,  and  clothes  for  thy  beddynge. 
And  if  so  be  that  thou  my  lady  Wynne, 


48  THE   KNIGHTES    TALE. 

And  sle  me  in  tliis  woode  ther  I  am  inne,  760 

Thou  maist  wel  ban  thy  lady  as  for  me.' 

This  Palamon  answerede  :  ••  I  graunte  it  the.' 

And  thus  they  ben  departed  til  a-morwe, 

When  ech  of  hem  hadde  leyd  his  feith  to  borwe. 

O  Cupide,  out  of  alle  charite  !  765 

O  regne,  that  wolt  no  felawe  ban  with  the ! 
Ful  soth  is  seyd,  that  love  ne  lordschipe 
Wol  not,  bis  thonkes,  ban  no  felaweschipe. 
Wel  fynden  that  Arcite  and  Palamoun. 
Arcite  is  riden  anon  unto  the  toun,  770 

And  on  the  morwe,  or  it  were  dayes  light, 
Ful  prively  two  barneys  bath  he  digbt, 
Botbe  sufHsaunt  and  mete  to  darreyne 
The  batayle  in  the  feeld  betwix  hem  tweyne. 
And  on  his  bors,  alone  as  he  was  born,  775 

He  caryeth  al  this  barneys  him  byforn  ; 
And  in  the  grove,  at  tyme  and  place  i-set, 
This  Arcite  and  this  Palamon  ben  met. 
Tho  chaungen  gan  the  colour  in  here  face. 
Right  as  the  honter  in  the  regne  of  Trace  780 

That  stondeth  in  the  gappe  with  a  spere, 
Whan  honted  is  the  lyoun  or  the  here, 
And  bereth  him  come  ruschyng  in  the  greves, 
And  breketh  bothe  bowes  and  the  leves, 
And  thinketh,  '  Here  cometb  my  mortel  enemy,  785 

Withoute  faile,  he  mot  be  deed  or  I ; 
For  eytber  I  mot  slen  him  at  the  gappe,  ^^^ 
Or  be  moot  sleen  me,  if  that  me  mysbappe  : ' 
So  ferden  they,  in  chaungyng  of  here  bewe, 
As  fer  as  evericb  of  hem  other  knewe.  790 

Ther  nas  no  good  day,  ne  no  saluyng ; 
But  streyt  withouten  wordes  rehersyng, 
Everych  of  hem  help  for  to  armen  other,    ^^ 
As  frendly  as  he  were  bis  owne  brother ;     \ 


THE   KNIUIITES    TALE.  49 

And  after  that  with  scharpe  speres  stronge  ^qs 

They  foynen  ech  at  other  wonder  longe. 

Thou  myghtest  wene  that  this  Palamoii 

In  his  fightyng  were  as  a  wood  lyoun,     > 

And  as  a  cruel  tygre  was  Arcite  : 

As  wilde  boores  gonne  they  to  smyte,  800 

That  frothen  white  as  fome  for  ire  wood. 

Up  to  the  ancle  foughte  they  in  here  blood. 

And  in  this  wise  I  lete  hem  fightyng  dwelle  ; 

And  forth  I  wol  of  Theseus  jj/ow  telle. 

The  destyne,  mynistre  general,  80s 

That  executeth  in  the  world  over-al 

Tiie  purveauns,  that  God  hath  seyn  byforn  ; 

So  strong  it  is,  that  though  the  world  hadde  sworn 
The  contrary  of  a  thing  byj^e  or  nay, 

let  sonityme  it  schal  falle  upon  a  day  Sio 

That  falleth  nought  eft  withinne  a  thousend  _yeere. 

For  certeynly  oure  appetites  heere. 

Be  it  of  werre,  or  pees,  or  hate,  or  love, 

Al  is  it  reuled  by  the  sighte  above. 

This  mene  I  now  by  mighty  Theseus,  815 

That  for  to  lionten  is  so  desirous. 

And  namely  at  the  grete  hert  in  May, 

That  in  his  bedde  ther  daweth  him  no  day. 

That  he  nys  clad,  and  redy  for  to  ryde 

With  honte  and  horn,  and  houndes  him  byside.  820 

For  in  his  hontyng  hath  he  such  delyt, 

That  it  is  al  his  joye  and  appetyt 

To  been  himself  the  grete  hertes  bane, 

For  after  Mars  he  serveth  now  Diane. 

Cleer  was  the  day,  as  I  have  told  or  this,  825 

And  Theseus,  with  alle  joye  and  blys. 
With  his  Ypolita,  the  fayre  queene, 
And  Emelye,  clothed  al  in  greene, 
On  honting  be  thay  riden  ryally. 

4 


so  THE   KNIGHTES    TALE.    ^ 

And  to  the  grove,  that  stood  ful  faste  by,  830 

In  which  ther  was  an  hert  as  men  him  tolde, 

Duk  Theseus  the  streyte  wey  hath  holde.  • 

And  to  the  h\unde  he  rydeth  him  ful  righte, 

For  thider  was  the  hert  wont  have  his  flighte, 

And  over  a  brook,  and  so  forth  in  his  weye.  835 

This  duk  wol  have  a  cours  at  him  or  tweye 

With  houndes,  swiche  as  that  him  lust  comaunde. 

And  whan  this  duk  was  come  unto  the  launde, 

Under  the  sonne  he  loketh,  and  anon 

He  was  war  of  Arcite  and  Palamon,  840 

That  foughten  bi^eeme,  as  it  were  boores  tuo  ; 

The  brighte  swerdes  wente  to  and  fro 

So  hidously,  that  with  the  leste  strook 

It  seemede  as  it  wolde  felle  an  ook  ; 

But  what  they  were,  nothing  he  ne  woot.  845 

This  duk  his  courser  with  his  spores  smoot, 

And  at  a  stert  he  was  betwix  hem  tuoo, 

And  pullede  out  a  swerd  and  cride,  '  Hoo ! 

Nomore,  up  peyne  of  leesyng  of  yovw  heed. 

By  mighty  Mars,  he  schal  anon  be  deed,  850 

That  smyteth  eny  strook,  that  1  may  seen  ! 

But  telleth  me  what  raester  men  ye  been, 

That  ben  so  hardy  for  to  tighten  heere 

Withoute  jugge  or  other  officere, 

As  it  were  in  a  lystes  really?  '  855 

This  Palamon  answerde  hastily, 

And  seyde  :  '  Sire,  what  nedeth  wordes  mo  ? 

We  ban  the  deth  deserved  bothe  tuo. 

Tuo  woful  wrecches  been  we,  and  kaytyves, 

That  ben  encombred  of  oure  owne  lyves  ;  860 

And  as  thou  art  a  rightful  lord  and  juge, 

Ne  _yeve  us  neyther  mercy  ne  refuge. 

And  sle  me  first,  for  seynte  charite  ; 

But  sle  my  felawe  eek  as  wel  as  me. 


THE  KNKillTES    TALK  5 1 

Or  sle  him  first;  for,  though  thou  kuovvc  it  lytc,  86s 

This  is  thy  mortal  fo,  this  is  Arcite, 
That  fro  thy  lond  is  banyscht  on  his  heed, 
For  which  he  hath  deserved  to  be  deed. 
For  this  is  he  that  com  unto  thi  gate 

And  seyde,  that  he  highte  Philostrate.  gyo 

Thus  hath  he  japed  the  ful  many  a_yer, 
And  thou  hast  maked  him  thy  cheef  squyer. 
And  this  is  he  that  loveth  Emelye. 
For  sith  the  day  is  come  that  I  schal  dye, 
I  make  pleynly  my  confessioun,  87s 

That  I  am  thilke  woful  Palamoun, 
That  hath  thy  prisoun  broke  wikkedly. 
I  am  thy  mortal  foo,  and  it  am  I 
That  loveth  so  hoote  Emelye  the  brighte, 
That  I  wol  dye  present  in  hire  sighte,  sso 

Therfore  I  aske  deeth  and  my  juwyse  ; 
But  slee  my  felawe  in  the  same  wyse,  '    < 
(  For  bothe  han  we  deserved  to  be  slayn.'  / 
This  worthy  duk  answerde  anon  agayn, 
And  seide,  '  This  is  a  schort  conclusioun  :  885 

2our  owne  mouth,  by_your  confessioun, 
Hath  dampned  _you,  and  I  wil  it  recorde. 
It  nedeth  nou^/^t  to  pyne  j'ow  with  the  corde. 
Tii  schul  be  deed  by  mighty  Mars  the  recde  !  ' 
The  queen  anon  for  verray  wommanhede  890 

Gan  for  to  wepc,  and  so  dede  Emelye, 
And  alle  the  ladies  in  the  companye.  . 
Gret  pite  was  it,  as  it  thoughte  hem  alle, 
That  evere  such  a  chaunce  schulde  falle  ; 
For  gentil  men  thei  were,  of  gret  estate,  895 

And  nothing  but  for  love  was  this  debate. 
And  sawe  here  bloody  woundes  wyde  and  sore ; 
And  alle  crydcii,  bothe  Icsse  and  more, 
'  Have  mercy,  Lord,  upon  us  wommen  alle  ! ' 


52  THE   KNIGHTE8    TALE. 

And  on  here  bare  knees  adoun  they  falle, 

And  wolde  ban  kist  his  feet  ther  as  he  stood, 

Til  atte  laste  ashiked  was  his  mood  ; 

For  pite  renneth  sone  in  gentil  herte. 

And  though  he  first  for  ire  quok  and  sterte, 

He  hath  considerd  shortly  in  a  chiuse, 

The  trespas  of  hem  bothe,  and  eek  the  cause  : 

And  although  that  his  ire  here  gylt  accusede, 

/  2et  in  his  resoun  he  hem  bothe  excusede ;  ) 
And  thus  he  thoughte  wel  that  every  man  . 
Wol  helpe  himself  in  love  if  that  he  can,    '' 
And  eek  delyvere  himself  out  of  prisoun  ; 
And  eek  his  herte  hadde  compassioun 
Of  vvommen,  for  they  wepen  evere  in  oon  ; 
And  in  his  gentil  herte  he  thoughte  anoon, 
And  softe  unto  himself  he  seyde  :   '  Fy 
Upon  a  lord  that  wol  ban  no  mercy. 
But  be  a  lyoun  bothe  in  word  and  dede. 
To  hem  that  ben  in  repentaunce  and  drede. 
As  wel  as  to  a  proud  dispitous  man. 
That  wol  maynteyne  that  he  first  bigan  ! 
That  lord  hath  litel  of  discrecioun. 
That  in  such  caas  can  no  divisioun  ; 
But  weyeth  pride  and  humblesse  after  oon.' 
And  schortly,  whan  his  ire  is  thus  agon, 
He  gan  to  loken  up  with  eyen  lighte, 
And  spak  these  same  wordes  al  in  highte. 
'  The  god  of  love,  a  !  benedicite. 
How  mighty  and  how  gret  a  lord  is  he  ! 

(  Agayns  his  might  ther  gayneth  non  obstacles, ' 
He  may  be  cleped  a  god  for  his  miracles; 
For  he  can  maken  at  his  owne  gyse 
Of  everych  herte,  as  that  him  lust  devyse. 
Lo  her  this  Arcite  and  this  Falamoun, 
That  quytly  weren  out  of  my  prisoun. 


95° 


THE  KNIGHTES    TALE.  53 

And  mighte  han  lyved  in  Thebes  ryally,  935 

And  witen  I  am  here  mortal  enemy, 

And  that  here  detli  Hth  in  my  might  also, 

And  _yet  hath  love,  maugrc  here  ey£-/icn  tuo, 

[-brought  hem  hider  bothe  for  to  dye. 

Now  loketh,  is  nat  that  an  heih  folyc?  940 

Who  may  not  ben  a  fool,  if  that  he  love? 

Byhold  for  Goddes  sake  that  sit  above, 

Se  how  they  blede  !  be  they  nought  wel  arrayed  ? 

Thus  hath  here  lord,  the  god  of  love,  y-payed 

Here  wages  and  here  fees  for  here  servise.  945 

And  yet  they  wenen  for  to  ben  ful  wise 

That  serven  love,  for  ought  that  may  bifalle. 

But  this  isjj/et  the  beste  game  of  alle, 

That  sche,  for  whom  they  han  this  jolitee, 

Can  hem  therfore  as  moche  thank  as  me. 

Sche  woot  no  more  of  al  this  hoote  fare,  -^~ 

By  God,  than  wot  a  cuckow  or  an  hare.    1 

But  al  moot  ben  assayed,  hoot  and  cold  ; 

A  man  moot  ben  a  fool  or_yong  or  old  ; 

I  woot  it  by  myself  ful  _yore  agon  :  ,55 

For  in  my  tyme  a  servant  w^as  I  on. 

And  therfore,  syn  I  knowe  of  loves  peyne, 

And  wot  how  sore  it  can  a  man  destreyne, 

As  he  that  hath  ben  caught  ofte  in  his  lace, 

1  you  forjeve  al  holly  this  trespace,  g6o 

At  request  of  the  queen  that  kneleth  heere, 

And  eek  of  Emelye,  my  suster  deere. 

And  ye  schul  bothe  anon  unto  me  swere, 

That  neveremo_ye  schul  my  corowne  dere, 

Ne  make  werre  upon  me  night  ne  day, 

But  ben  my  freendes  in  al  that  ye  may. 

I  j^ow  forjeve  this  trespas  every  del,' 

And  they  him  swore  his  axyng  fayre  and  wel. 

And  him  of  lordschipe  and  of  mercy  prayde, 


965 


54  THE   KNIQHTES    TALE. 

And  he  hem  graunteth  grace,  and  thus  he  sayde  :  970 

'  To  speke  of  real  lynage  and  richesse, 

Though  that  sche  were  a  queen  or  a  pryncesse, 

Ech  of  jvow  bothe  is  worthy  douteles 

To  wedden  when  tyme  is,  but  natheles 

i  speke  as  for  my  suster  Emelye,  975 

For  whom  _ye  han  this  stryf  and  jelousye, 

7e  wite  _youreseU'  sche  may  not  wedde  two 

At  oones,  though  ye  fighten  evere  mo  : 

That  oon  of  _yow,  al  be  him  loth  or  leef, 

He  mot  go  pypen  in  an  ivy  leef;  980 

This  is  to  sayn,  sche  may  nought  now  han  bothe, 

Al  be  ye  nevere  so  jelous,  ne  so  wrothe. 

And  for-thy  I  j^ou  putte  in  this  degre, 

That  ech  of  jkou  schal  have  his  destyne, 

As  him  is  schape,  and  herkneth  in  what  wyse ;  985 

Lo  here  your  cndc  of  that  I  schal  devyse. 

My  wil  is  this,  for  plat  conclusioun, 
Withouten  eny  repplicacioun, 
If  that  _you  liketh,  tak  it  for  the  beste. 
That  everych  of  j)/ou  schal  gon  wher  him  leste  990 

Frely  withouten  raunsoun  or  daungeer ; 
And  this  day  fyfty  wykes,  fer  ne  neer, 
Everich  of  _you  schal  brynge  an  hundred  knightes, 
Armed  for  lystes  up  at  alle  rightes, 

Al  redy  to  dernyne  hire  by  batayle.  995 

And  this  byliofe  I  jkou  withouten  fayle 
Upon  my  trouthe,  and  as  I  am  a  knight. 
That  whether  of  yow  bothe  that  hath  might, 
This  is  to  seyn,  that  whether  he  or  thou 
May  with  his  hundred,  as  I  spak  of  now,  looo 

Slen  his  contrarye,  or  out  of  lystes  dryve, 
Thanne  schal  I  j^even  Emelye  to  wyve, 
To  whom  that  fortune  j^eveth  so  fair  a  grace. 
The  lystes  schal  I  maken  in  this  place, 


rHE   KNIGHTES    TALE.  55 

And  God  so  v>'jsly  on  my  sovv'le  re  we,  1005 

As  I  schal  evene  juge  ben  and  trewe. 

2e  schul  non  other  ende  widi  me  make, 

That  oon  of  yow  ne  sclial  be  deed  or  take.  • 

And  if  you  thinketh  this  is  wel  i-sayd,     ^jj^^^""^^ 

Sayeth  _youre  avys,  and  holdeth  _yow  apayd.  loic 

This  isjKOure  ende  and  joure  conclusioun.' 

Who  loketh  lightly  now  but  Palamoun? 

Who  spryngeth  up  for  joye  but  Arcite? 

Who  couthe  telle,  or  who  couthe  it  endite. 

The  joye  that  is  maked  in  the  place  1015 

Whan  Theseus  hath  don  so  fair  a  grace  ? 

But  down  on  knees  wente  every  maner  wight, 

And  thanken  him  with  al  here  herte  and  miht. 

And  namely  the  Thebans  ofte  sithe. 

And  thus  with  good  hope  and  with  herte  blithe  1020 

They  take  here  leve,  and  hom-ward  gonne  they  ryde 

To  Thebes  with  his  olde  walles  wyde. 

I  trowe  men  wolde  deme  it  necligence, 
If  I  for_yete  to  telle  the  dispence 

Of  Theseus,  that  goth  so  busily  1025 

To  maken  up  the  lystes  rially  ; 
That  such  a  noble  theatre  as  it  was, 
I  dar  wel  sayn  that  in  this  world  ther  nas. 
The  circuit  a  myle  was  aboute. 

Walled  of  stoon,  and  dyched  al  withoute,  1030 

Round  was  the  schap,  in  maner  of  compaas, 
Ful  of  degrees,  the  heighte  of  sixty  paas, 
That  whan  a  man  was  set  in  o  degre 
He  lette  nought  his  felawe  for  to  se. 

Est-ward  ther  stood  a  gate  of  marbel  whit,  1035 

West-ward  right  such  another  in  the  opposit. 
And  schortly  to  conclude,  such  a  place 
Was  non  in  erthe  as  in  so  litel  space  ; 
For  in  the  lond  ther  nas  no  crafty  man. 


56  THE   KNIGIITES    TALE. 

That  geometry  or  arsmetrike  can,  1046 

Ne  portreyour,  ne  kervere  of  ymages, 

That  Theseus  ne_y^f  hem  mete  and  wages 

The  theatre  for  to  maken  and  devyse. 

And  for  to  don  his  ryte  and  sacrifise, 

He  est-ward  hath  upon  the  gate  above,  1045 

In  worschipe  of  Venus,  goddesse  of  love, 

Don  make  an  auter  and  an  oratorye  ; 

And  west-ward  in  the  mynde  and  in  memorye 

Of  Mars,  he  hath  i-maked  such  another. 

That  coste  hirgely  of  gold  a  fother.  1050 

And  north-ward,  in  a  toret  on  the  walle. 

Of  alabaster  whit  and  reed  coralle 

An  oratorye  riche  for  to  see. 

In  worschipe  of  Dyane,  of  chastite. 

Hath  Theseus  doon  wrought  in  noble  wise.  1055 

But_)/it  hadde  I  forj/eten  to  devyse 

The  noble  kervyng,  and  the  purtreitures. 

The  schap,  the  contenaunce  and  the  figures, 

That  weren  in  these  oratories  thre. 

First  in  the  temple  of  Venus  maystow  se  1060 

Wrought  on  the  wal,  ful  pitous  to  byholde, 
The  broken  slepes,  and  the  sykes  colde  ; 
The  sacred  teeres,  and  the  waymentyng ; 
The  fyry  strokes  of  the  desiryng, 

That  loves  servauntz  in  this  lyf  enduren  ;  1065 

The  othes,  that  here  covenantz  assuren. 
Plesance  and  hope,  desyr,  fool-hardynesse, 
Beaute  and  _youthe,  baudery  and  richesse, 
Charmes  and  force,  lesynges  and  flaterye, 
Dispense,  busynesse,  and  jelousye,  1070 

That  werede  of  yelwe  guides  a  gerland, 
And  a  cukkow  sittyng  on  hire  hand ; 
Festes,  instrumentz,  carols,  and  daunces, 
Lust  and  array,  and  alle  the  circumstaunces 


THE   KNIOIITES    TALr..  57 

Of  love,  which  that  I  rckued  have  and  schal,  1075 

By  ordre  weren  peynted  on  the  wal. 

And  nio  than  I  can  make  of  niencioun. 

For  sothly  al  the  mount  of  Citheroun, 

Thcr  Venus  hath  hire  principal  dwellyng, 

Was  schewed  on  the  wal  in  portraying,  1080 

With  al  the  gardyn,  and  the  lustynesse. 

Nought  was  foijete  the  porter  Ydelncsse, 

Ne  Narcisus  the  fayre  of  yore  agon, 

Ne_yet  the  folye  of  kyng  Salamon, 

Ne  eek  the  grete  strengthe  of  Hercules,  io8s 

Thenchauntementz  of  Medea  and  Circes, 

Ne  of  Turnus  with  the  hardy  fiers  corage, 

The  riche  Cresus  caytif  in  servage. 

Thus  mayjKe  seen  that  wisdom  ne  richesse, 

Beaute  ne  sleighte,  strengthe,  ne  hardynesse,  1090 

Ne  may  with  Venus  holde  champartye, 

For  as  hire  lust  the  world  than  ma}^  sche  gye, 

Lo,  alle  thise  folk  i-caught  were  in  hire  las, 

Til  they  for  wo  ful  often  sayde  alias. 

Sufficeth  heere  ensamples  oon  or  tuo,  1095 

And  though  I  couthe  rekne  a  thousend  mo. 

The  statu  of  Venus,  glorious  for  to  see. 

Was  naked  fletyng  in  the  large  see, 

And  fro  the  navel  doun  al  covered  was 

With  wawes  grene,  and  brighte  as  eny  glas.  noo 

A  citole  in  hire  right  hond  hadde  sche. 

And  on  hire  heed,  ful  semely  for  to  see, 

A  rose  garland  fresch  and  wel  smellyng, 

Above  hire  heed  hire  dowves  flikeryng. 

Biforn  hire  stood  hire  sone  Cupido,  1105 

Upon  his  schuldres  wynges  hadde  he  tuo  ; 

And  blynd  he  was,  as  it  is  often  seene  ; 

A  bowe  he  bar  and  arwes  brighte  and  kene. 

Why  schulde  I  nought  as  wel  eek  telle  you  alle 


58  THE  KNIOHTES    TALE. 

The  portraiture,  that  was  upon  the  walle  nio 

Withinne  the  temple  of  mighty  Mars  the  reede? 
AI  peynted  was  the  wal  in  lengthe  and  breede 
Lik  to  the  estres  of  the  grisly  place, 
That  highte  the  grete  temple  of  Mars  in  Trace, 
In  thilke  colde  frosty  regioun,  ms 

Ther  as  Mars  hath  his  sovereyn  mancioun. 
First  on  the  wal  was  peynted  a  forest, 
In  which  ther  dwelleth  neyther  man  ne  best, 
With  knotty  knarry  bareyn  trees  olde 

Of  stubbes  scharpe  and  hidous  to  byholde  ;  1120 

In  which  ther  ran  a  swymbel  in  a  swough. 
As  though  a  storm  schulde  bersten  every  bough  : 
And  downward  on  an  hil  under  a  bente, 
"Ther  stood  the  temple  of  Marz  armypotente, 
Wrought  al  of  burned  steel,  of  which  thentre  1125 

Was  long  and  streyt,  and  gastly  for  to  see. 
And  therout  cam  a  rage  and  such  a  vese, 
That  it  made  al  the  gates  for  to  rese. 
The  northen  light  in  at  the  dores  schon. 
For  wyndowe  on  the  wal  ne  was  ther  noon,  1130 

Thurgh  which  men  mighten  any  light  discerne. 
The  dores  were  alle  of  ademaunrz  eterne, 
I-clenched  overthwart  and  endelong 
With  iren  tough  ;  and,  for  to  make  it  strong, 
Every  piler  the  temple  to  susteene  »i35 

Was  tonne  greet,  of  iren  bright  and  schene. 
Ther  saugh  I  first  the  derke  ymaginyng 
Of  feloyne,  and  al  the  compassyng ; 
The  cruel  ire,  as  reed  as  eny  gleede  ; 
The  pikepurs,  and  eek  the  pale  drede  ;  1140 

The  smyler  with  the  knyf  under  his  cloke  ; 
The  schepne  brennyng  with  the  blake  smoke ; 
The  tresoun  of  the  murtheryng  in  the  bed  ; 
The  open  werre,  with  woundes  al  bi-bled  ; 


m 


THE   KNIOHTES    TALE.  59 

Contek  with  bloody  knyf,  and  scharp  manace.  1145 

Al  fill  of  chirkyng  was  that  sory  place. 
The  sleere  of  himself  _yet  saugh  I  there, 
His  herte-blood  hath  bathed  al  his  here  ; 
The  nayl  y-dryven  in  the  schode  a-nyght ; 
The  colde  deth,  with  mouth  gapyng  upright.  1150 

Amyddes  of  the  temple  sat  meschaunce, 
With  disconfort  and  sory  contenaunce. 
let  saugh  I  woodnesse  laughying  in  his  rage  ; 
Armed  complaint,  outhees,  and  fiers  outrage. 
The  caroigne  in  the  bussh,  with  throte  y-corve :  1155 

A  thousand  slain,  and  not  of  qualme  y-storve  ; 
The  tiraunt,  with  the  prey  by  force  y-raft ; 
The  toun  destroied,  ther  was  no  thyng  laft. 
2et  sawgh  I  brent  the  schippes  hoppesteres  ; 
The  hunte  strangled  with  the  wilde  beres :  "60 

The  sowe  freten  the  child  right  in  the  cradel ; 
The  cook  i-skalded,  for  al  his  longe  ladel. 
Nought  was  for_yeten  by  the  infortune  of  Marte ; 
The  cartere  over-ryden  with  his  carte, 
Under  the  whel  ful  lowe  he  lay  adoun.  "65 

Ther  were  also  of  Martz  divisioun. 
The  harbour,  and  the  bocher,  and  the  smyth, 
That  forgeth  scharpe  swerdes  on  his  stith. 
And  al  above  depeynted  in  a  tour 

Saw  I  conquest  sittyng  in  gret  honour,  1170 

With  the  scharpe  swerd  over  his  heetl 
Hangynge  by  a  sotil  twyne  threed. 
Depeynted  was  the  slaughtre  of  Julius, 
Of  grete  Nero,  and  of  Anthonius  ; 

Al  be  that  thilke  tyme  they  were  unborn,  1175 

Yet  was  here  deth  depeynted  ther  byforn, 
By  manasyng  of  Mars,  right  by  figure. 
So  was  it  schewed  in  that  purtreiture 
As  is  depeynted  in  the  sterres  abovCj 


6o  THE   KNIOHTES    TALE. 

Who  schal  be  slayn  or  elles  deed  for  love.  "So 

Sufficeth  oon  ensample  in  stories  olde, 

I  may  not  rekne  hem  alle,  though  I  wolde. 

The  statue  of  Mars  upon  a  carte  stood, 
Armed,  and  lokede  grym  as  he  were  wood  ; 
And  over  his  heed  ther  schynen  two  figures  uSs 

Of  sterres,  that  been  cleped  in  scriptures. 
That  oon  Puella,  that  other  Rubeus. 
This  god  of  armes  was  arayed  thus :  — 
A  wolf  ther  stood  byforn  him  at  his  feet 
With  eyen  reede,  and  of  a  man  he  eet ;  119° 

With  sotyl  pencel  depeynted  was  this  storie, 
In  redoutyng  of  Mars  and  of  his  glorie. 

Now  to  the  temple  of  Dyane  the  chaste 
As  schortly  as  I  can  I  wol  me  haste, 

To  telle  _you  al  the  descripcioun.  "95 

Depeynted  ben  the  walles  up  and  down, 
Of  huntyng  and  of  schamefast  chastite. 
Ther  saugh  I  how  woful  Calystope, 
Whan  tliat  Dyane  agreved  was  with  here, 
Was  turned  from  a  womman  to  a  bere,  "oo 

And  after  was  sche  maad  the  loode-sterre  ; 
Thus  was  it  peynted,  I  can  say  no  feiTe  ; 
Hire  sone  is  eek  a  sterre,  as  men  may  see. 
Ther  sawgh  I  Dane  y turned  til  a  tree, 
I  mene  nou^^t  the  goddesse  Dyane,  '205 

But  Peneus  dou^/^ter,  which  that  highte  Dane. 
Ther  saugh  I  Atheon  an  hert  i-maked, 
For  vengeaunce  that  he  saugh  Dyane  al  naked  ; 
I  saugh  how  that  his  houndes  han  him  caught, 
And  freten  him,  for  that  they  knewe  him  naught.         1210 
T'\t  peynted  was  a  litel  forthermoor, 
How  Atthalaunte  huntedfe  the  wilde  boor, 
And  Meleagre,  and  many  another  mo, 
For  which  Dyane  wroughte  hem  care  and  woo. 


THE   KNIOHTES    TALE.  6l 

Ther  saugh  I  many  another  wonder  storye,  1215 

The  whiche  ine  list  not  drawe  to  memorye. 

This  goddesse  on  an  hert  ful  hyhe  sect, 

With  smale  houndes  al  aboute  hire  feet, 

And  undernethe  hire  feet  sche  hadde  a  moone, 

Wexyng  it  was,  and  schulde  wane  soone.  122 . 

In  gaude  greene  hire  statue  clothed  was, 

With  bowe  in  honde,  and  arwes  in  a  cas. 

Hir  eyg-/ien  caste  sclie  ful  lowe  adoun, 

Ther  Pluto  hath  his  derke  regioun. 


Wei  couthe  he  peynte  lyfly  that  it  wrou^//te, 

With  many  a  floren  he  the  hewes  boughte.  1230 

Now  been  thise  listes  maad,  and  Theseus 
That  at  his  grete  cost  arayede  thus 
The  temples  and  the  theatre  every  del. 
Whan  it  was  don,  hym  likede  wonder  wel. 
But  stynte  I  wil  of  Theseus  a  lite,  "ss 

And  speke  of  Palamon  and  of  Arcite. 

The  day  approcheth  of  here  retournynge. 
That  evei-ych  schulde  an  hundred  kni^/^tes  brynge, 
The  bataille  to  derreyne,  as  I  yon  tolde  ; 
And  til  Athenes,  here  covenant  to  holde,  1240 

Hath  everych  of  hem  brought  an  hundred  knightes 
Wel  armed  for  the  werre  at  alle  rightes. 
And  sikerly  ther  trowede  many  a  man 
That  nevere,  siththen  that  the  world  bigan, 
As  for  to  speke  of  knighthod  of  here  bond,  "45 

As  fer  as  God  hath  maked  see  or  lond, 
Nas,  of  so  fewe,  so  noble  a  companye. 
For  every  wight  that  lovede  chy  valrye, 
And  wolde,  his  thankes,  have  a  passant  name, 


62  THE   KNIGHTES    TALE. 

Hath  preyed  that  he  mighte  ben  of  that  game  ;  1250 

And  wel  was  him,  that  therto  chosen  was. 

For  if  ther  felle  to  morwe  such  a  caas, 

2e  knowen  wel,  that  every  lusty  knight, 

That  loveth  paramours,  and  hath  his  might. 

Were  it  in  Engelond,  or  elleswhere,  1255 

They  wolde,  here  thankes,  wilne  to  be  there. 

To  fighte  for  a  lady  ;  bciiedicite  ! 

It  were  a  lusty  sighte  for  to  see. 

And  right  so  ferden  they  with  Palamon. 

With  him  ther  wente  knyghtes  many  oon  ;  1260 

Som  wol  ben  armed  in  an  habergoun. 

In  a  brest-plat  and  in  a  light  gypoun  ; 

And  somme  woln  have  a  peyre  plates  large  ; 

And  somme  woln  have  a  Pruce  scheld,  or  a  targe  ; 

Somme  woln  been  armed  on  here  legges  wccl,  1265 

And  have  an  ax,  and  somme  a  mace  of  steel. 

Ther  nys  no  newe  gyse,  that  it  nas  old. 

Armed  were  they,  as  I  have  you  told, 

Everich  after  his  opinioun. 

Ther  maistow  sen  comyng  with  Palamoun  1270 

Ligurge  himself,  the  grete  kyng  of  Trace  ; 
Blak  was  his  herd,  and  manly  was  his  fiice. 
The  cercles  of  his  eyen  in  his  heed 
They  gloweden  bytwixej^elwe  and  reed  ; 
And  lik  a  griflbun  lokede  he  aboute,  1275 

With  kempe  heres  on  his  browes  stowte  ; 
His  lymes  greete,  his  brawnes  harde  and  stronge, 
His  schuldres  broode,  his  armes  rounde  and  longe. 
And  as  the  gyse  was  in  his  contre, 

Ful  heye  upon  a  char  of  gold  stood  he,  laSo 

With  foure  white  boles  in  the  trays. 
Instede  of  cote  armure  over  his  harnays. 
With  nayles  jKelwe,  and  brighte  as  eny  gold, 
He  hadde  a  beres  skyn,  col-blak,  for-old. 


THE  KNIQHTES    TALE.  63 

His  longe  beer  was  kcmbd  byhynde  bis  bak,  128s 

As  eny  ravens  fether  it  schon  for-blak. 
A  wrethe  of  gold  arm-gret,  of  huge  wigbte, 
Upon  his  heed,  set  ful  of  stoones  brighte, 
O'i  f\  ne  rubies  and  of  dyamauntz. 

Aboute  his  char  ther  wenten  white  alauntz,  1290 

Twenty  and  mo,  as  grete  as  eny  steer, 
To  hunten  at  the  lyoun  or  the  deer, 
And  folwede  him,  with  mosel  fixste  i-bounde, 
Colers  of  golde,  and  torettz  fyled  rounde. 
An  hundred  lordes  hadde  he  in  his  route  1295 

Armed  ful  wel,  with  hertes  sterne  and  stoute. 
With  Arcita,  in  stories  as  men  fynde,        \J 
The  grete  Emetreus,  the  kyng  of  Ynde, 
Uppon  a  steede  bay,  trapped  in  steel, 

Covered  with  cloth  of  gold  dyapred  wel,  1300 

Cam  rydyng  lyk  the  god  of  armes.  Mars. 
His  coote  armure  was  of  cloth  of  Tars, 
Cowched  with  perles  whyte  and  rounde  and  grete. 
His  sadel  was  of  brend  gold  newe  ybete  ; 
A  mantelet  upon  his  schuldre  hangyng  1305 

Bret-ful  of  rubies  reede,  as  fir  sparclyng. 
His  crispe  beer  lik  rynges  was  i-ronne, 
And  that  was_j'elwe,  and  gliteryng  as  the  sonne. 
His  nose  was  heigh,  his  eyen  bright  cytryn. 
His  lippes  rounde,  his  colour  was  sangwyn,  1310 

A  fewe  freknes  in  his  face  y-spreynd, 
Betwixe  jelwe  and  somdel  blak  y-meynd. 
And  as  a  lyoun  he  his  lokyng  caste. 
Of  fyve  and  twenty  j)/eer  his  age  I  caste. 
His  berd  was  wel  bygonne  for  to  sprynge  ;  131s 

His  voys  was  as  a  trumpe  thunderynge. 
Upon  his  heed  he  werede  of  laurer  grene 
A  garlond  freisch  and  lusty  for  to  sene. 
Upon  his  bond  he  bar  for  his  deduyt  ,  ,1  ' 


64  THE  KNIGHTES   TALE. 

An  egle  tame,  as  eny  lylie  whyt. 

An  hundred  lordes  hadde  he  with  him  ther, 

Al  armed  sauf  here  hedes  in  here  ger, 

Ful  richely  in  alle  maner  thinges. 

For  trusteth  wel.  that  dukes,  erles,  kynges, 

Were  gadred  in  this  noble  companye, 

For  love,  and  for  encres  of  chivalrye. 

Aboute  this  kyng  ther  ran  on  every  part 

Ful  many  a  tame  lyoun  and  lepart. 

And  in  this  w^ise  thise  lordes  alle  and  some 

Been  on  the  Sonday  to  the  cite  come 

Aboute  prime,  and  in  the  toun  alight. 

This  Theseus,  this  duk,  this  worthy  knight, 

Wha«  he  hadde  brought  hem  into  his  cite, 

And  ynried  hem,  everich  at  his  degre 

He  festeth  hem,  and  doth  so  gret  labour 

To  esen  hem,  and  don  hem  al  honour, 

Thatjj'it  men  wene  that  no  mannes  wyt 

Of  non  estat  ne  cowde  amenden  it. 

The  mynstralcye,  the  servyce  at  the  feste. 

The  grete  _yiftes  to  the  moste  and  leste, 

The  riche  aray  of  Theseus  paleys, 

Ne  who  sat  first  ne  last  upon  the  deys. 

What  ladies  feyrest  ben  or  best  daunsynge, 

Or  which  of  hem  can  daunce  best  and  singe, 

Ne  who  most  felyngly  speketh  of  love  ; 

What  haukes  sitten  on  the  perche  above, 

What  houndes  liggen  on  the  floor  adoun : 

Of  al  this  make  I  now  no  mencioun. 

But  of  theffect ;   that  thinketh  me  the  beste  ; 

Now  comth  the  poynt,  and  herkneth  if  _you  leste. 

The  Sonday  night,  or  day  bigan  to  springe, 
When  Palamon  the  larke  herde  synge. 
Although  it  nere  nought  day  by  houres  tuo, 
T'\i  sang  the  larke,  and  Palamon  also 


THE   KNIGHTEH    TALE.  65 

With  holy  heitc,  and  with  an  hcili  corage  1355 

lie  loos,  to  wcntlcn  on  his  pilgrymage 

Unto  the  bhsfnl  Citherea  benigne, 

I  mene  Venus,  honorable  and  digne. 

And  in  hire  hour  he  walketh  forth  a  paas 

Unto  the  lystes,  ther  hire  temple  was,  1360 

And  doun  he  kneleth,  and,  with  humble  cheere 

And  herte  sore,  he  seide  as_ye  schul  heere. 

'  Faireste  of  faire,  O  lady  myn  Venus, 
Doughter  of  Jove,  and  spouse  to  Vulcanus, 
Thou  gladere  of  the  mount  of  Citheroun,  136s 

For  thilke  love  thou  haddest  to  Adeoun 
Have  pite  of  my  bittre  tecres  smerte, 
And  tak  myn  humble  pra^'ere  to  thin  herte. 
Alias  !  I  ne  have  no  langage  to  telle 

Thetl'ectes  ne  the  tormentz  of  myn  helle  ;  1370 

Myn  herte  may  myn  harmes  nat  bewreye  ; 
I  am  so  confus,  that  I  can  not  seye. 
But  mercy,  lady  brighte,  that  knowest  wele 
My  thought,  and  secst  what  liarmes  that  I  fele, 
Considre  al  this,  and  rewe  upon  my  sore,  1375 

As  wisly  as  I  schal  for  evermore, 
Emforth  my  might,  thi  trewe  servaunt  be. 
And  holden  werre  alway  with  chastite  ; 
That  make  I  myn  avow,  so  jye  me  helpe. 
I  kepe  nat  of  armes  for  to  j^elpe.  13S0 

Ne  I  ne  aske  nat  to-morwe  to  have  victorie, 
Ne  renoun  in  this  caas,  ne  veyne  glorie 
Of  pris  of  armes,  blowen  up  and  doun, 
But  I  wolde  have  fully  possessioun 

Of  Emelye,  and  dye  in  thi  servise  ;  1385 

Fynd  thou  the  maner  how,  and  in  what  wyse 
I  recche  nat,  but  it  may  better  be. 
To  have  victorie  of  him,  or  he  of  me, 
So  that  I  have  my  lady  in  myn  armes. 

5 


66  THE  KN1GHTE8   TALE. 

For  though  so  be  that  Mars  is  god  of  armes, 

2"bure  vertu  is  so  gret  in  heven  above, 

That  if  you  Hst  I  schal  wel  han  my  love. 

Thy  temple  wol  I  worschipe  everemo, 

And  on  thin  auter,  wher  I  ryde  or  go, 

I  wol  don  sacrifice,  and  fyres  beete. 

And  if  ye.  wol  nat  so,  my  lady  sweete. 

Than  prayc  I  the,  to  morwe  with  a  spere 

That  Arcita  me  thurgh  the  herte  here. 

Thanne  rekke  I  nat,  whan  I  have  lost  my  lyf, 

Though  that  Arcite  wynne  hire  to  his  wyf. 

This  is  theftect  and  ende  of  my  prayere, 

7"ii  me  my  love,  thou  blisful  lady  deere.' 

Whan  thorisoun  was  doon  of  Palamon, 

His  sacrifice  he  dede,  and  that  anoon 

Ful  pitously,  with  alle  circumstances, 

Al  telle  I  nat  as  now  his  observances. 

But  atte  laste  the  statu  of  Venus  schook, 

And  made  a  signe,  wherby  that  he  took 

That  his  prayere  accepted  was  that  day. 

For  though  the  signe  schewede  a  delay, 

2et  wiste  he  wel  that  graunted  was  his  boone  ; 

And  with  glad  herte  he  wente  him  hom  ful  soone. 

The  thridde  hour  inequal  that  Palamon 
Bigan  to  Venus  temple  for  to  goon, 
bp  roos  the  sonne,  and  up  roos  Emelye, 
And  to  the  temple  of  Diane  gan  sche  hye. 
Hire  maydens,  that  sche  thider  with  hire  ladde, 
Ful  redily  with  hem  the  fyr  they  hadde, 
^\(,i  A**     Thencens,  the  clothes,  and  the  I'emenant  al 
ihat  to  the  sacrifice  longen  schal :  .1' 

The  homes  fulle  of  meth,  as  was  the  gyse ; 
Ther  lakkede  nou_^//t  to  don  hire  sacrifise. 
Smokyng  the  temple,  ful  of  clothes  faire, 
This  Emelye  with  herte  debonaire 


THE   KNKillTEti    TALE.  67 

Hire  body  wessch  with  water  of  a  wellc  ;  1425 

But  how  sche  dide  hire  rite  I  dar  nat  telle, 

But  it  be  eny  thing  in  general ; 

And  yet  it  were  a  game  to  heren  al ; 

To  him  that  meneth  wel  it  were  no  charge : 

But  it  is  good  a  man  be  at  his  large.  1430 

Hire  brighte  heer  was  kempt,  untressed  al ; 

A  corone  of  a  grene  ok  cerial 

Upon  hire  heed  was  set  ful  faire  and  meete. 

Tuo  fyres  on  the  auter  gan  sche  beete. 

And  dide  hire  thinges,  as  men  may  biliolde  1435 

In  Stace  of  Thebes,  and  thise  bokes  olde. 

Whan  kynled  was  the  fyr,  with  pitous  cheere 

Unto  Dyane  sche  spak,  as_ye  may  heere. 

'  O  chaste  goddesse  of  the  woodes  greene, 
To  whom  bothe  heven  and  erthe  and  see  is  scene,         1440 
Qiieen  of  the  regne  of  Pluto  derk  and  lowe, 
Goddesse  of  maydens,  that  m3'n  herte  hast  knowe 
Ful  many  a  yeer,  and  woost  what  I  desire. 
As  keep  me  fro  thi  vengeaunce  and  thin  yre, 
That  Atheon  aboughte  trewely  :  ,445 

Chaste  goddesse,  wel  wost  thou  that  I 
Desire  to  ben  a  mayden  al  my  lyf, 
Ne  nevere  wol  I  be  no  love  ne  wyf. 
I  am,  thou  wost,  j^it  of  thi  companye, 
A  mayde,  and  love  huntyng  and  venerye,  1450 

And  for  to  walken  in  the  woodes  wylde, 


Now  help  me,  lady,  syth  ye  may  and  kan. 
For  tho  thre  formes  that  thou  hast  in  the. 
And  Palamon,  that  hath  such  love  to  me, 
And  eek  Arcite,  that  loveth  me  so  sore. 
This  grace  I  praye  the  withouten  more, 
As  sende  love  and  pees  betwixe  hem  two  ; 


1455 


68  THE   KNIGHTEIS    TALE. 

And  fro  me  torne  iiwey  here  hertes  so,  146° 

That  al  here  hoote  love,  and  here  desir, 
And  al  here  bisy  torment,  and  hei"e  fyr 
Be  queynt,  or  tnrned  in  another  place  ; 
And  if  so  be  thou  wolt  do  me  no  grace, 
Or  if  my  destyne  be  schapen  so,  1465 

That  I  schal  needes  have  on  of  hem  two. 
As  sende  me  him  that  most  desireth  me. 
Bihold,  goddesse  of  clene  chastite. 
The  bittre  teeres  that  on  my  cheekes  falle. 
Syn  thou  art  mayde,  and  kepere  of  us  alle,  147° 

My  maydenhode  thou  kepe  and  wel  conserve, 
And  whil  I  lyve  a  mayde  I  wil  the  serve.' 
The  fyres  brenne  upon  the  auter  cleere, 
Whil  Emelye  was  thus  in  hire  preyere  ; 
But  sodeinly  sche  saugh  a  sighte  queynte,  1475^ 

For  right  anon  on  of  the  fyres  queynte, 
And  quykede  agayn,  and  after  that  anon 
That  other  fyr  was  queynt,  and  al  agon  ; 
And  as  it  queynte,  it  made  a  whistelyng, 
As  doth  a  wete  brond  in  his  brennyng.  14S0 

And  at  the  brondes  ende  out-ran  anoon 
As  it  were  bloody  dropes  many  con ; 
For  which  so  sore  agast  was  Emelye, 
That  sche  was  wel  neih  mad,  and  gan  to  crie. 
For  sche  ne  wiste  what  it  signifyede  ;  1485 

But  oonly  for  the  feere  thus  sche  cryede 
And  wep,  that  it  was  pite  for  to  heere. 
And  therwithal  Dyane  gan  appeere, 
With  bowe  in  bond,  right  as  an  hunteresse, 
And  seyde  :   '  Doughter,  stynt  thyn  hevynesse.  1490 

Among  the  goddes  bye  it  is  afTermed, 
And  by  eterne  word  write  and  confermed, 
Thou  schalt  ben  wedded  unto  oon  of  tho 
That  ban  for  the  so  moche  care  and  wo  ; 


THE   KNIOHTES    TALE.  69 

But  unto  which  of  hem  I  may  nat  telle.  1495 

Farwel,  for  I  ne  may  no  lenger  dwelle. 

The  fyres  which  that  on  myn  auter  brenne  . 

Schuln  the  dcclaren,  or  that  thou  go  henne,"^^'-"'^'^ 

Thyn  aventure  of  love,  as  in  this  caas.' 

And  with  that  word,  the  arwes  in  the  caas  ^soo 

Of  the  goddesse  clatren  faste  and  rynge, 

And  forth  sche  wente,  and  made  a  vanysschynge, 

For  which  this  Emelye  astoneyd  was, 

And  seide,  '  What  amounteth  this,  alias  ! 

I  putte  me  in  thy  proteccioun,  1505 

Dyane,  and  in  thi  disposicioun.' 

And  boom  sche  goth  anon  the  nexte  waye. 

This  is  theffect,  ther  nys  no  more  to  sayc. 

The  nexte  houre  of  Mars  folwynge  this, 
^Arcite  unto  the  temple  walked  is  151° 

Of  fierse  Mars,  to  doon  his  sacrifise, 
With  alle  the  rites  of  his  payen  wise. 
With  pitous  herte  and  heih  devocioun, 
Right  thus  to  Mars  he  sayde  his  orisoun  : 
'  O  stronge  god,  that  in  the  regnes  coldc  1515 

Of  Trace  honoured  art  and  lord  y-holde, 
And  hast  in  every  regne  and  every  londc 
Of  armes  al  the  bridel  in  thyn  honde, 
And  hem  fortunest  as  the  lust  devyse, 
Accept  of  me  my  pitous  sacrifise.  i.wo 

If  so  be  that  my  j/outhe  may  deserve, 
And  that  my  might  be  worth!  for  to  serve 
Thy  godhede  that  I  may  ben  on  of  thine, 
Then  praye  I  the  to  rewe  upon  my  pyne. 


70  THE  KNI0HTE8    TALE. 


For  thilke  sorwe  that  was  in  thin  herte, 

Have  reuthe  as  wel  upon  my  peynes  smerte. 

I  am  _yong  ''^'id  unkonnyng,  as  thou  west,  is^s 

And,  as  I  trowe,  with  love  ofliended  most, 

That  evere  was  eny  lyves  creature  ; 

For  sche,  that  doth  me  al  this  wo  endure, 

Ne  rekketh  nevere  wher  I  synke  or  fleete. 

And  wel  1  woot,  or  sche  me  mercy  heete,  1540 

I  moot  with  strengthe  wynne  hire  in  the  place  ; 

And  wel  I  wot,  withouten  help  or  grace 

Of  the,  ne  may  my  strengthe  noughte  avayle. 

Then  help  me,  lord,  to-morwe  in  my  batayle, 

For  thilke  fyr  that  whilom  brente  the,  1545 

As  wel  as  thilke  fir  now  brenneth  me ; 

And  do  that  I  to-morwe  have  victorie. 

Myn  be  the  travaile,  and  thin  be  the  gloria. 

Thy  soverein  temple  wol  I  most  honouren 

Of  any  place,  and  alway  most  labouren  155° 

In  thy  plesaunce  and  in  thy  craftes  stronge. 

And  in  thy  temple  I  wol  my  baner  honge. 

And  alle  the  armes  of  my  companye  ; 

And  evermore,  unto  that  day  I  dye, 

Eterne  fyr  I  wol  biforn  the  fynde.  'ss-- 

And  eek  to  this  avow  I  wol  me  bynde : 

My  herd,  myn  heer  that  hangeth  longe  adoun. 

That  nevere  _yit  ne  felte  offensioun 

Of  rasour  ne  of  schere,  I  wol  the_yive. 

And  be  thy  trewe  servaunt  whil  I  lyve.  1560 

Now  lord,  have  rowthe  uppon  my  sorwes  sore, 

T\i  me  the  victorie,  I  aske  the  no  more.' 

The  preyere  stynte  of  Arcita  the  stronge. 
The  ryngcs  on  the  temple  dore  that  honge, 


THE   KNWIITES    TALE.  7 1 

And  eek  the  dores,  clatereden  ful  faste,  1565 

Of  which  Arcita  somwhat  h}M-n  agaste. 

The  fyres  brende  upon  the  auter  biightc, 

That  it  gan  al  the  temple  for  to  Hghte  ; 

And  swote  smel  the  ground  anon  upj'af, 

And  Arcita  anon  his  hand  up-haf,  1570 

And  more  encens  into  the  fyr  he  caste, 

With  otlire  rites  mo  ;  and  atte  haste 

The  statu  of  Mars  bigan  his  hauberk  rynge. 

And  with  that  soun  he  herde  a  min-murynge 

Ful  lowe  and  dym,  that  saydc  thus,  "  Victorie.'  1575 

For  which  he  yaf  to  Mars  honour  and  glorie. 

And  thus  with  joye,  and  hope  wel  to  fare, 

Arcite  anoon  unto  his  inne  is  fiire. 

As  fayn  as  foul  is  of  tlie  briglite  sonne. 

And  right  anon  such  stryf  ther  is  Ingonne  1580 

For  thilke  grauntyng,  in  the  heven  aliove, 

Bitwixe  Venus  the  goddesse  of  love. 

And  Mars  the  sterne  god  armypotente, 

That  Jupiter  was  busy  it  to  stcnte  ; 

Til  that  the  pale  Saturnus  the  colde,  1585 

That  knew  so  manye  of  aventures  olde, 

Fond  in  his  olde  experiens  an  art, 

That  he  ful  sone  hath  plesed  every  part. 

As  soth  is  sayd,  eelde  hath  gret  avantage, 

In  eelde  is  bothe  wisdom  and  usage  ;  1590 

Men  may  the  olde  at-renne,  but  nat  at-rede. 

Saturne  anon,  to  stynte  stryf  and  drede, 

Al  be  it  that  it  is  agayns  his  kynde, 

Of  al  this  stryf  he  gan  remedy  fynde. 

'  My  deere  dou^//ter  Venus,'  quod  Saturne,  isqs 

'  My  cours,  that  hath  so  wyde  for  to  turne, 

Hath  more  power  than  woot  eny  man. 

Myn  is  the  drenchyng  in  the  sec  so  wan  ; 

Myn  is  the  jirisoun  in  the  derke  cote  ; 


72  THE  KNIOHTES    TALE. 

Myn  is  the  strangle  and  hangyng  by  the  throte  ;  1600 

The  murmure,  and  the  cherles  rebellyng. 

The  groyning,  and  the  pryve  empoysonyng ; 

I  do  vengeance  and  pleyn  correctioun, 

Whiles  I  dwelle  in  signe  of  the  lyoun. 

Myn  is  the  ruyne  of  the  hihe  halles,  1603 

The  fallyng  of  the  toures  and  the  walles 

Upon  the  mynour  or  the  carpenter. 

I  slowh  Sampsoun  in  schakyng  the  piler. 

And  myne  ben  the  maladies  colde, 

The  derke  tresoun,  and  the  castes  olde ;  1610 

Myn  lokyng  is  the  fiider  of  pestilence. 

Now  wep  nomore,  I  schal  don  diligence 

That  Palamon,  that  is  thyn  owne  knight, 

Schal  have  his  lady,  as  thou  hast  him  bight. 

Though  Mars  schal  helpe  his  knight,  yet  natheles         i6is 

Bitwixej)/ou  ther  moot  som  tyme  be  pecs, 

Al  he  ye  nought  of  00  complexioun, 

That  causeth  al  day  such  divisioun. 

I  am  thi  ayel,  redy  at  thy  wille  ; 

Wep  thou  nomore,  I  wol  thi  lust  fulfille.'  162c 

Now  wol  I  stynten  of  the  goddes  above, 

Of  Mars,  and  of  Venus  goddesse  of  love, 

And  telle  jvou,  as  pleinly  as  I  can. 

The  grete .ejBHct-for  which  that  I  bigan. 

Gret  was  the  feste  in  Athenes  that  day,  1625 

And  eek  the  lusty  sesoun  of  that  May 
Made  ever}'  wight  to  ben  in  such  plesaunce, 
That  al  that  Monday  jousten  they  and  daunce, 
And  spenden  hit  in  Venus  heigh  servise. 
But  by  the  cause  that  they  schulde  arise  1630 

Erly  for  to  seen  the  grete  fight, 
Unto  their  reste  wente  they  at  nyght. 
And  on  the  morwe  whan  that  day  gan  sprynge, 
Of  hors  and  herneys  noyse  and  claterynge 


TllK    KNIGIITKS    TALE.  73 

Ther  was  in  the  hostelryes  al  aboute  ;  1635 

And  to  the  paleys  rood  ther  many  a  rontc 

or  lordes,  upon  steedes  and  palfreys. 

Ther  mayst  thou  seen  devysyng  of  hcrncys 

So  imcowth  and  so  richc,  and  wrought  so  wel 

Of  goldsniithry,  of  browdyng,  and  of  steel;  1640 

Tlie  scheldes  briglite,  testers,  and  trappures  ; 

Gold-beten  helmes,  liauberkes,  cote-armures ; 

Lordes  in  paranientz  on  here  courseres, 

Knightes  of  retenu,  and  eek  squyeres 

Naylyng  the  speres,  and  helmes  bokelyng,  1645 

Giggyng  of  scheeldes,  with  layneres  lasyng ; 

Ther  as  need  is,  they  were  nothing  }'del  ; 

The  fomy  steedes  on  the  golden  bridel 

Gnawyng,  and  faste  the  armurers  also 

With  fyle  and  hamer  prikyng  to  and  fro  ;  1650 

Yemen  on  foote,  and  communes  many  oon 

With  schorte  staves,  thikke  as  they  may  goon  ; 

Pypes,  trompes,  nakers,  and  clariounes. 

That  in  the  batai' '  blowe  bloody  sownes  ; 

The  paleys  ful  of  peples  up  and  doun,  1655 

Heer  thre,  ther  ten,  holdyng  here  questioun, 

Dyvynyng  of  thise  Thebane  knightes  two. 

Somme  seyden  thus,  somme  seyde  it  schal  be  so  ; 

Somme  heelde  with  him  with  the  blake  berd, 

Somme  with  the  balled,  somme  with  the  thikke  herd  ;    1660 

Somme  sayde  he  lokede  grym  and  he  wolde  fighte  ; 

He  hath  a  sparth  of  twenti  pound  of  wighte. 

Thus  was  the  halle  ful  of  devynynge, 

Longe  after  that  the  sonne  gan  to  springe. 

The  grete  Theseus  that  of  his  sleep  awaked  1665 

With  menstralcye  and  noyse  that  was  maked, 

Held_yit  the  chambre  of  his  paleys  riche, 

Til  that  the  Thebane  knyghtes  bothe  i-liche 

Honoured  weren  into  the  paleys  fet. 


74  THE  KNI0HTE8    TALE. 

Duk  Theseus  was  at  a  wyndow  set,  1670 

Arayed  right  as  he  were  a  god  in  trone. 

The  peple  preseth  thider-ward  ful  sone 

Him  for  to  seen,  and  doon  heigh  reverence. 

And  eek  to  herkne  his  hest  and  his  sentence. 

An  herowd  on  a  skaffold  made  an  hoo,  1675 

Til  al  the  noyse  of  the  peple  was  i-doo  ; 

And  whan  he  sawh  the  peple  of  noysc  al  stille, 

Tho  schewede  he  the  mighty  didoes  wille. 

'  The  lord  hath  of  his  lieih  discrecioun 
Consideied,  that  it  were  destruccioun  j68o 

To  gentil  blood,  to  fightcn  in  the  gyse 
Of  mortal  bataille  now  in  this  emprise  ; 
Wherfore  to  scliapen  that  they  schuln  not  dye. 
He  wol  his  firste  purpos  modifye. 

No  man  therforc,  up  peyne  of  los  of  lyf,  1685 

No  maner  schot,  ne  pollax,  ne  schort  knyf 
Into  the  lystes  sende,  or  thider  br3-nge  ; 
Ne  schort  swerd  for  to  stoke,  with  point  bytynge, 
No  man  ne  drawe,  ne  bere  by  his  side. 
Ne  noman  schal  unto  his  felawe  ryde  1690 

But  oon  cours,  with  a  scharpe  ygrounde  spere  ; 
Foyne  if  him  lust  on  foote,  himself  to  were. 
And  he  that  is  at  meschief,  schal  be  take, 
And  nat  slayn,  but  be  brought  unto  the  stake. 
That  schal  ben  ordeyned  on  eyther  syde  ;  1695 

But  thider  he  schal  by  force,  and  ther  abyde. 
And  if  so  falle,  the  cheventein  be  take 
On  eyther  side,  or  elles  sle  his  make. 
No  lenger  schal  the  turneynge  laste. 

God  spede  _you  ;  go  forth  and  ley  on  fasle.  1700 

With  long  swerd  and  with  mace  fi^/^t  your  fiUe, 
1  Goth  nowjKoure  way;  this  is  the  lordcs  wille.' 

The  voice  of  peple  touchede  the  heven. 
So  lowde  cride  thei  with  mery  stcven  : 


THE   KNI0HTE8    TALE.  75 

'  God  save  such  a  lord  tliat  is  so  good,  170s 

He  wilneth  no  dcstriiccioun  of  blood  ! ' 

Up  gon  the  trompcs  and  the  melodye. 

And  to  tlie  lystes  ryt  the  companye 

By  ordynaunce,  thurghoiit  the  cite  large, 

Ilangyng  with  cloth  of  gold,  and  not  with  sarge.  1710 

Ful  lik  a  lord  this  noble  duk  gan  rydc. 

These  tuo  Thebanes  upon  eyther  side  ; 

And  after  rood  the  queen,  and  Emelye, 

And  after  that  another  companye, 

Of  oon  and  other  after  here  degre.  1715 

And  thus  they  passen  thurghout  the  cite. 

And  to  the  lystes  come  thci  by  tyme. 

It  nas  not  of  the  dayjK^t  fully  pry  me. 

Whan  set  was  Theseus  ful  riche  and  bye, 

Ypolita  the  queen  and  Emelye,  1720 

And  other  ladyes  in  degrees  aboute. 

Unto  the  seetes  preseth  al  the  route  ; 

And  west-ward,  thurgh  thej^ates  under  Marte, 

Arcite,  and  eek  the  hundred  of  his  parte. 

With  baner  red  ys  entred  right  anoon  ;  1725 

And  in  that  salve  moment  Palamon 

Is  under  Venus,  est-ward  in  that  place. 

With  baner  whyt,  and  hardy  checre  and  face. 

In  al  the  world,  to  seeken  up  and  doun, 
So  evene  withouten  variacioun,  1730 

Ther  nere  suche  companyes  tweye.  ■_* 

For  ther  nas  noon  so  wys  that  cowthe  seye, 
That  any  hadde  of  other  avauntage 
Of  worthinesse,  ne  of  estaat,  ne  age, 

So  evene  were  they  chosen  for  to  gesse.  1735 

And  in  two  renges  faire  they  hem  dresse. 
And  whan  here  names  rad  were  everychon. 
That  in  here  nombre  gile  were  ther  noon, 
Tho  were  the_yates  schet,  and  cried  was  lowde  : 


76  THE  KNIOIITES    TALE. 

'  Doth  now  _your  devoir,  _yonge  knightes  proude  ! '  1740 

The  heraldz  hifte  here  prikyng  up  and  doun  ; 

Now  ryngen  trompes  loude  and  chirioun  ; 

Thar  is  nomore  to  sayn,  but  west  and  est 

In  gon  the  speres  ful  sadly  in  arest ; 

In  goth  the  scharpe  spore  into  the  side.  1745 

Ther  seen  men  who  can  juste,  and  who  can  ryde  ; 

Thcr  schyveren  schaftes  upon  scheeldes  tliykke  ; 

He  feeleth  thurgh  the  herte-spon  the  prikke. 

Up  springen  speres  twenty  foot  on  highte  ; 

Out  goon  the  swerdes  as  the  silver  brighte.  175° 

The  helmes  thei  to-hewen  and  to-schrede  ; 

Out  brest  the  blood,  with  sterne  stremes  reede. 

With  mighty  maces  the  bones  thay  to-breste. 

He  thurgh  the  thikkeste  of  the  throng  gan  threste. 

Ther  stomblen  steedes  stronge,  and  doun  goon  alia.       1755 

He  rolleth  under  foot  as  doth  a  balle. 

He  foyneth  on  his  feet  with  a  tronchoun. 

And  he  him  hurtleth  with  his  hors  adoun. 

He  thurgh  the  body  is  hurt,  and  siththan  take 

Maugre  his  heed,  and  brou^//t  unto  the  stake,  1760 

As  forward  was,  right  thar  he  moste  abyda. 

Another  lad  is  on  that  other  syde. 

And  som  tyme  doth  hem  Theseus  to  reste, 

Hem  to  refreissche,  and  drinkan  if  ham  leste. 

Ful  ofta  a-day  han  thise  Thebanes  twoo  1765 

Togidre  y-met,  and  wrought  his  felawe  woo  ; 

Unhorsed  hath  ech  other  of  ham  tweye. 

Ther  nas  no  tygre  in  the  vale  of  Galgophaye, 

Whan  that  hire  whalpa  is  stole,  whan  it  is  lite, 

So  cruel  on  the  hunte,  as  is  Arcite  177° 

For  jelous  herte  upon  this  Palamon  : 

Ne  in  Balmarye  ther  nis  so  fal  lyoun. 

That  hunted  is,  or  for  his  hunger  wood, 

Ne  of  his  prey  desireth  so  the  blood, 


TllK   KNKiHTES    TALE.  77 

As  Palamon  to  slcn  his  foo  Arcite.  1775 

The  jeloiis  strokes  on  here  hehnes  byte  ; 

Out  renneth  blood  on  bothe  here  sides  reede. 

Som  t3'me  an  ende  ther  is  of  every  dede  ; 

For  er  the  sonne  unto  the  reste  wente, 

The  stronge  kyng  Emetreus  gan  hente  1780 

This  Pahmion,  as  he  faught  with  Arcite, 

And  made  his  swerd  depe  in  his  flcissch  to  byte  ; 

And  by  the  force  of  twenti  is  he  take 

Unyoklen,  and  i-drawe  unto  the  stake. 

And  in  the  rescous  of  this  Pahunon  1785 

The  stronge  kyng  Ligurge  is  born  adoun  ; 

And  kyng  Emetreus  for  al  his  strengthe 

Is  born  out  of  his  sadel  a  swerdes  lengthe, 

So  hitte  him  Pakunon  er  he  were  take  ; 

But  al  for  nought,  he  was  brought  to  the  stake.  1790 

His  hardy  herte  mighte  him  helpeiijought ; 

He  moste  abyde  whan  that  he  was  caught, 

By  force,  and  eek  by  composicioun. 

Who  sorweth  now  but  woful  Palamoun, 

That  moot  nomore  gon  agayn  to  fighte?  1795 

And  whan  that  Theseus  hadde  seen  this  sighte, 

Unto  the  folk  that  foughten  thus  echon 

He  cryde,  *•  Hoo  !   nomore,  for  it  is  doon  ! 

I  wol  be  trewe  juge,  and  nou_o-//t  partye. 

Ai'cyte  of  Thebes  schal  have  Emelye,  1800 

That  by  his  fortune  hath  hire  faire  i-wonne.' 

Anoon  ther  is  a  noyse  of  people  bygonnc 

For  joye  of  this,  so  lowde  and  heye  withalle, 

It  semede  that  the  listes  scholde  falle. 

What  can  now  fayre  Venus  doon  above?         ,  1S05 

What  seith  sche  now?  what  doth  this  queen  of  love? 
But  wepeth  so,  for  wantyng  of  hire  wille, 
Til  that  hire  teeres  in  the  lystes  fille  ; 
Sche  seyde  :   '  I  am  aschamed  douteles.' 


78  THE   KNIGIITES    TALE. 

Saturnus  seyde  :   '  Dou^>^ter,  hold  thy  pees.  iSio 

Mars  hath  his  willc,  liis  knight  hath  al  his  boone, 

And  by  myn  heed  thou  schalt  ben  esed  soone.' 

The  trompes  with  the  lowde  mynstralcye, 

The  herawdes,  that  ful  lowde  _yolle  and  crye, 

Been  in  here  wele  for  joye  of  daun  Arcyte.  1815 

But  herkneth  me,  and  stynteth  now  a  lite, 

Which  a  miracle  ther  bifel  anoon. 

This  fierse  Arcyte  hath  of  his  helm  ydoon, 

And  on  a  courser  for  to  schewe  his  face, 

He  priketh  endelonge  the  large  place,  1820 

Lokyng  upward  upon  his  Emelye  ; 

And  sche  agayn  him  caste  a  frendlych  ey^/ie, 

(For  wommen,  as  to  speken  in  comune, 

Thay  folwen  al  the  favour  of  fortune) 

And  sche  was  al  his  cheere,  as  in  his  herte.  1825 

Out  of  the  ground  a  fyr  infernal  sterte. 

From  Pluto  sent,  at  request  of  Saturne, 

For  which  his  hors  for  feere  gan  to  turne. 

And  leep  asyde,  and  foundrede  as  he  leep ; 

And  or  that  Arcyte  may  taken  keep,  1S30 

He  pighte  him  on  the  pomel  of  his  heed. 

That  in  the  place  he  lay  as  he  were  deed. 

His  brest  to-brosten  with  his  sadel-bowe. 

As  blak  he  lay  as  eny  col  or  crowe, 

So  was  the  blood  y-ronnen  in  his  face.  1835 

Anon  he  was  y-born  out  of  the  place 

With  herte  soor,  to  Tlieseus  paleys. 

Tho  was  he  corven  out  of  his  barneys, 

And  in  a  bed  y-brought  ful  faire  and  blyve, 

For  he  was  y'lt  in  memory  and  on  lyve,  1840 

And  alway  cr3'ing  after  Emelye. 

Duk  Theseus,  with  all  his  companye, 

Is  comen  hom  to  Athenes  his  cite. 

With  alle  blysse  and  gret  solempnit^. 


THE  KNIGHTES    TALE.  79 

Al  be  it  that  this  aveiiture  was  falle,  1845 

He  iiolile  nought  (hsconfortcn  hem  alle. 

Men  scyde  eek,  that  Arcita  schal  nought  dye, 

He  schal  ben  heled  of  his  mahidye. 

And  of  another  thing  they  were  as  fayn, 

That  of  hem  alle  was  ther  noon  y-slayn,  1850 

Al  were  they  sore  hurt,  and  namely  oon. 

That  with  a  spere  was  thirled  his  brest  boon. 

To  othre  woundes,  and  to  broken  armes, 

Some  hadde  salves,  and  some  hadde  charmes, 

Fermacyes  of  herbes,  and  eek  save  1855 

They  dronken,  for  they  wolde  here  lymes  have. 

For  which  this  noble  duk,  as  he  wel  can, 

Conforteth  and  honoureth  every  man, 

And  made  revel  al  the  longe  night. 

Unto  the  straunge  lordes,  as  was  right.  i860 

Ne  ther  was  holden  no  disconfytyng. 

But  as  a  justes  or  a  turneying  ; 

For  sothly  ther  was  no  disconfiture, 

For  fallynge  nis  not  but  an  aventure  ; 

Ne  to  be  lad  witii  fors  unto  the  stake  1865 

Unyolden,  and  with  twenty  knightes  take, 

O  persone  allone,  withouten  moo. 

And  haried  forth  by  arme,  foot,  and  too. 

And  eek  his  steede  dryven  forth  with  staves. 

With  footmen,  bothe_yemen  and  eek  knaves,  1870 

It  nas  aretted  him  no  vyleinye, 

Ther  may  no  man  clepe  it  no  cowardye. 

For  which  anon  Duk  Theseus  leet  crie, 
To  stynten  alle  rancour  and  envye. 

The  gree  as  wel  of  o  syde  as  of  other,  1875 

And  either  side  ylik  as  otheres  brother  ; 
And  jvaf  hem  jj/iftes  after  here  degre. 
And  fully  heeld  a  feste  dayes  thre  ; 
And  conveyede  the  kynges  worthily 


8o  Tilt:   KNIUIITES    TALE. 

Out  of  his  toun  a  jounice  largely.  1880 

And  horn  wcnte  every  man  tlie  righte  way. 

Ther  was  no  more,  but  '  Farwel,  have  good  day  !' 

Of  this  bataylle  I  wol  no  more  endite, 

But  speke  of  Palamon  and  of  Arcyte. 

Swelleth  the  brest  of  Arcyte,  and  the  sore  i88s 

Encresceth  at  his  herte  more  and  more. 
The  clothred  blood,  for  eny  leche-craft, 
CorrumiDeth,  and  is  in  his  bouk  i-laft, 
That  nother  ve3'ne  blood,  ne  ventusyng, 
Ne  drynke  of  herbes  may  ben  his  helpyng.  1890 

The  vertu  expulsif,  or  animal, 
Fro  thilke  vertu  cleped  natural, 
Ne  may  the  venym  voyde,  ne  expelle. 
The  pypes  of  his  longes  gan  to  swelle, 
/\nd  every  lacerte  in  his  brest  adoun  1895 

Is  schent  with  venym  and  corrupcioun. 
Him  gayneth  nother,  for  to  gete  his  lyf, 
Vomyt  upward,  ne  dounward  laxatif ; 
Al  is  to-brostcn  thilke  regioun. 

Nature  hath  now  no  dominacioun,  1900 

And  certeynly  tiier  nature  vvil  not  wirche, 
Farwel  phisik  ;  go  ber  the  man  to  chirche. 
This  al  and  som,  that  Arcyta  moot  dye. 
For  which  he  sendeth  after  Emelye, 

And  Palamon,  that  was  his  cosyn  deere.  1905 

Than  seyde  he  thus,  as  ye.  schul  after  heere. 

'  Naught  may  the  woful  spirit  in  myn  herte 
Declare  a  poynt  of  alle  my  sorwes  smerte 
To  you,  my  lady,  that  I  love  most ; 

But  I  byquethe  the  service  of  my  gost  1910 

To  you  aboven  every  creature, 
Syn  that  my  lyf  ne  may  no  lenger  dure. 
Alias,  the  woo  !   alias,  the  peynes  stronge, 
That  I  for  you  have  suflred,  and  so  longe  ! 


THE   KNiailTES    TALE.  8 1 

Alias,  the  deth  !  alas,  myn  Emelye  !  191s 

Alias,  departyng  of  our  companye  ! 

Alias,  myn  hertcs  queen  !  alias,  my  wyf ! 

Myn  hertes  lady,  endere  of  my  lyf ! 

What  is  this  world?  what  asken  men  to  have? 

Now  with  his  love,  now  in  his  colde  grave  1920 

Allone  withouten  eny  companye. 

Farwcl,  my  swete  foo  !   myn  Emelye  ! 

And  softe  tak  me  in  j^oure  armes  tweye, 

For  love  of  God,  and  herkneth  what  I  seye. 

I  have  heer  with  my  cosyn  Palamon  1925 

Had  stryf  and  rancour  many  a  day  i-gon. 
For  love  of  _yow,  and  for  my  jelousie. 
And  Jupiter  so  wis  my  sowle  gye, 
To  speken  of  a  servaunt  proprely, 

With  alle  circumstaunces  trewely,  1930 

That  is  to  seyn,  truthe,  honour,  and  knighthede, 
Wysdom,  humblesse,  estaat,  and  hey  kynrede, 
Fredom,  and  al  that  longeth  to  that  art. 
So  Jupiter  have  of  my  soule  part. 

As  in  this  world  right  now  ne  knowe  I  non  1935 

So  worthy  to  be  loved  as  Palamon, 
That  serveth  jou,  and  wol  don  al  his  lyf. 
And  if  that  evere  yc  schul  ben  a  wyf, 
For_yet  not  Palamon,  the  gentil  man.' 

And  with  that  word  his  speche  fade  gan  ;  1940 

For  fro  his  feete  up  to  his  brest  was  come 
The  cold  of  deth,  that  hadde  him  overcome. 
And  yet  moreover  in  his  armes  twoo 
The  vital  strengthe  is  lost,  and  al  agoo. 
Only  the  intellect,  withouten  more,  194s 

That  dwellede  in  his  herte  sik  and  sore, 
Gan  faylen,  when  the  herte  felte  deth, 
Dusken  his"*eyghen  two,  and  fayleth  breth. 
But  on  his  lady  y\i  caste  he  his  ye  ; 

6 


82  THE   KNIGHTES    TALE. 

His  laste  word  was,  '  Mercy,  Emelye  ! '  igso 

His  spiryt  chaimgede  hous,  and  wente  ther, 

As  I  cam  nevere,  I  can  nat  tellen  wher. 

Therfore  I  stynte,  I  nam  no  dyvynistre  ; 

Of  soules  fynde  I  not  in  this  registre, 

Ne  me  ne  list  thilke  opynyouns  to  telle  1955 

Of  hem,  though  that  thei  writen  wher  they  dwelle. 

Arcyte  is  cold,  ther  Mars  his  soule  gye  ; 

Now  wol  I  speke  forth  of  Emelye. 

Shrighte  Emelye,  and  howleth  Palamon, 
And  Theseus  his  suster  took  anon  i960 

Swownyng,  and  bar  hire  fro  the  corps  away. 
What  helpeth  it  to  taryen  forth  the  day. 
To  tellen  how  sche  weep  bothe  eve  and  morwe  ? 
For  in  swich  caas  wommen  can  han  such  sorwe. 
Whan  that  here  housbonds  ben  from  hem  ago,  1965 

That  for  the  more  part  they  sorwen  so, 
Or  elles  fallen  in  such  maladye, 
That  atte  laste  certeynly  they  dye. 
Infynyte  been  the  sorwes  and  the  teeres 
Of  olde  folk,  and  folk  of  tendre  yeeres  ;  1970 

For  him  ther  weepeth  bothe  child  and  man 
In  al  the  toun,  for  deth  of  this  Theban  ; 
So  gret  a  wepyng  was  ther  noon  certayn. 
Whan  Ector  was  i-brought,  al  freissh  i-slayn, 
To  Troye  ;  alias  !  the  pite  that  was  ther,  1975 

Cracchyng  of  cheekes,  rending  eek  of  heer. 
'  Why  woldest  thou  be  deed,'  thise  wommen  crye, 
'And  haddest  gold  ynowgh,  and  Emelye?' 
No  man  ne  mighte  gladen  Theseus, 

Savyng  his  olde  fader  Egeus,  1980 

That  knew  this  worldes  transmutacioun, 
As  he  hadde  seen  it  tornen  up  and  doun, 
Joye  after  woo,  and  woo  after  gladnesse  : 
And  schewede  hem  ensamples  and  liknesse. 


THE   KI^WHTEti    TALE.  83 

'  Right  as  thcr  deyde  never  man,'  quod  he,  19S5 

'  That  he  ne  lyvede  in  erthe  in  som  degree, 
Right  so  ther  lyvede  nevere  man,'  he  seyde, 
'  In  al  this  world,  that  som  tyme  he  ne  deyde. 
This  world  nys  but  a  thurghfare  ful  of  woo. 
And  we  ben  pilgryms,  passyng  to  and  froo  ;  19^0 

Deth  is  an  ende  of  every  worldly  sore' 
And  over  al  this  y\i  scide  he  mochel  more 
To  this  effect,  ful  wysly  ta  enhorte 
The  peple,  that  they  schulde  hem  rcconforte. 

Duk  Theseus,  with  al  his  busy  cure,  1995 

Cast  now  wher  that  the  sepulture 
Of  good  Arcyte  may  best  y-maked  be. 
And  eek  most  honoui-able  in  his  degrc. 
And  atte  laste  he  took  conclusioun. 

That  ther  as  first  Arcite  and  Palamon  2000 

Hadden  for  love  the  bataille  hem  bytwene, 
That  in  that  selve  grove,  soote  and  greene, 
Ther  as  he  hadde  his  amorous  desires. 
His  compleynt,  and  for  love  his  hoote  fyres, 
He  wolde  make  a  fyr,  in  which  thoffice  2005 

Of  funeral  he  mighte  al  accomplice  ; 
And  leet  comaunde  anon  to  hakke  and  hewe 
The  okes  olde,  and  leye  hem  on  a  rewe 
In  culpouns  wel  arrayed  for  to  brenne. 
His  officers  with  swifte  feet  they  renne,  2010 

And  ryde  anon  at  his  comaundement. 
And  after  this,  Theseus  hath  i-sent 
After  a  beer,  and  it  al  overspradde 
With  cloth  of  gold,  the  richeste  that  lie  hadde. 
And  of  the  same  sute  he  claddc  Arcyte  ;  aois 

Upon  his  hondes  hadde  he  gloves  white  ; 
Eek  on  his  heed  a  croune  of  laurer  grene, 
And  in  his  bond  a  swerd  ful  bright  and  kene. 
He  leyde  him  bare  the  visage  on  the  beere, 


84  THE  KNIGHTES   TALE. 

Therwith  he  weep  that  pite  was  to  heere. 
And  for  the  people  schulde  seen  him  alle, 
Whan  it  was  day  he  broughte  hem  to  the  halle, 
That  roreth  of  the  crying  and  the  soun. 

Tho  cam  this  woful  Theban  Palamoun, 
With  flotery  herd,  and  ruggy  asshy  heeres, 
In  clothes  blake,  y-dropped  al  with  teeres ; 
And,  passyng  other  of  wepyng,  Emelye, 
The  rewfuUeste  of  al  the  companye. 
In  as  moche  as  the  service  schulde  be 
The  more  noble  and  riche  in  his  degre, 
Duk  Theseus  leet  forth  thre  steedes  brynge, 
That  trapped  were  in  steel  al  gliterynge, 
And  covered  with  the  armes  of  dan  Arcytc. 
Upon  thise  steedes,  that  weren  grete  and  white, 
Ther  seeten  folk,  of  which  oon  bar  his  scheeld. 
Another  his  spere  up  in  liis  hondes  heeld ; 
The  thridde  bar  with  him  his  bowe  Turkeys, 
Of  brend  gold  was  the  caas  and  eek  the  herneys ; 
And  riden  forth  a  paas  with  sorweful  chere 
Toward  the  grove,  as  ye.  schul  after  heere. 
The  nobleste  of  the  Grekes  that  ther  were 
Upon  here  schuldres  carieden  the  beere, 
With  slake  paas,  and  eyghen  reede  and  wete, 
Thurghout  the  cite,  by  the  maister  streete. 
That  sprad  was  al  with  blak,  and  wonder  hye 
Right  of  the  same  is  al  the  strete  i-wrye. 
Upon  the  right  bond  wente  olde  Egeus, 
And  on  that  other  syde  duk  Theseus, 
With  vessels  in  here  hand  of  gold  wel  fyn, 
Al  ful  of  bony,  mylk,  and  blood,  and  wyn  ; 
Eek  Palamon,  with  ful  gret  companye  ; 
And  after  that  com  woful  Emelye, 
With  fyr  in  bond,  as  was  that  time  the  gyse, 
To  do  thoffice  of  funeral  servise. 


THE   KNIGIITES    TALE.  85 

Hey^'/i  labour,  and  ful  gret  apparailyng  2055 

Was  at  the  service  and  the  fyr  makyng, 
That  with  his  grene  top  the  heven  raughte, 
And  twenty  fochne  of  brede  tharmes  straughte  ; 
This  is  to  seyn,  the  boowes  were  so  brode. 
Of  stree  first  thcr  was  leyd  ful  many  a  loode.  2060 

But  how  the  fyr  was  maked  up  on  highte, 
And  eek  the  names  how  the  trees  higlite, 
As  00k,  fyr,  birch,  asp,  alder,  holm,  popler, 
VVilwe,  elm,  plane,  assch,  box,  chesteyn,  lynde,  laurer. 
Maple,  thorn,  beech,  hasel,  ewe,  wyppyltre,  2065 

How  they  weren  feld,  schal  nou^>7/t  be  told  for  me  ; 
Ne  how  the  goddes  ronnen  up  and  doun, 
Disheryt  of  here  habitacioun. 
In  which  they  woneden  in  rest  and  pees, 
Nymphes,  Faunes,  and  Amadrydes  ;  2070 

Ne  how  the  beestes  and  the  briddes  alle 
Fledden  for  feere,  whan  the  woode  was  fa  lie  ; 
Ne  how  the  ground  agast  was  of  the  lightc, 
That  was  nought  wont  to  seen  the  sonne  brighte  ; 
Ne  how  the  fyr  was  couched  first  with  stree,  2075 

And  thanne  with  drye  stykkes  cloven  a  tlnee. 
And  thanne  with  grene  woode  and  spicerie, 
And  thanne  with  cloth  of  gold  and  with  perrye, 
And  gerlandes  hangyng  with  ful  many  a  flour, 
The  myrre,  thensens  with  al  so  greet  odour  ;  2080 

Ne  how  Arcyte  lay  among  al  this, 
Ne  what  richesse  aboute  his  body  is ; 
Ne  how  that  Emel}^  as  was  the  gyse, 
Futte  in  the  fyr  of  funeral  servise  ; 

Ne  how  she  swownede  when  men  made  the  fyr,  2085 

Ne  what  sche  spak,  ne  what  was  hire  desir ; 
Ne  what  jewels  men  in  the  fyr  tho  caste. 
Whan  that  the  fyr  was  gret  and  brente  faste  ; 
Ne  how  summe  caste  here  scheeld,  and  summe  here  spere, 


86  THE  KNIGHTES    TALE. 

And  of  here  vestimentz,  which  that  they  were, 
And  cuppes  ful  of  wyn,  and  mylk,  and  blood, 
Into  the  fyr,  that  brente  as  it  were  wood ; 
Nc  how  the  Grekes  with  an  huge  route 
Thre  tymes  ryden  al  the  fyr  aboute 
LFpon  the  lefte  bond,  with  an  heih  schoutyng, 
And  thries  witli  here  speres  chiteryng ; 
And  thries  how  the  Ladyes  gonne  crye  ; 
Ne  how  that  lad  was  hom-ward  Emelye  ; 
Ne  how  Arcyte  is  brent  to  aschen  colde  ; 
Ne  how  that  liche-wake  was  y-holde 
Al  thilke  night,  ne  how  the  Grekes  pleye 
The  wake-pleyes,  ne  kepe  I  nat  to  seye  ; 
Who  wrastleth  best  naked,  with  oylc  enoynt, 
Ne  who  that  bar  him  best  in  no  disjoynt. 
I  wol  not  tellen  eek  how  that  they  goon 
Horn  til  Athenes  whan  the  pley  is  doon. 
But  schortly  to  the  poynt  than  wol  I  wende, 
And  maken  of  my  longe  tale  an  ende. 

By  processe  and  by  lengthe  of  certeyn  yeres 
Al  stynted  is  the  mornyng  and  the  teeres 
Of  Grekes,  by  oon  general  assent. 
Than  semede  me  ther  was  a  parlement 
At  Athenes,  on  a  certeyn  poynt  and  cas ; 
Among  the  whiche  poyntes  yspoken  was 
To  han  with  certeyn  contrees  alliaunce. 
And  han  fully  of  Thebans  obeissaunce. 
For  which  this  noble  Theseus  anon 
Let  senden  after  gentil  Palamon, 
Unwist  of  him  what  was  the  cause  and  why ; 
But  in  his  blake  clothes  sorwefully 
He  cam  at  his  comaundement  in  hye. 
Tho  sente  Theseus  for  Emelye. 
Whan  they  were  set,  and  husst  was  al  the  jDlace, 
And  Theseus  abyden  hadde  a  space 


TIIK   KNIGHTES    TALE.  87 

Or  eny  word  cam  fro  his  wyse  brest,  2125 

His  eyen  sette  he  ther  as  was  his  lest, 
And  with  a  sad  visage  he  sykede  stille, 
And  after  that  right  thus  he  seide  his  wille. 
'  Tile  firste  moevere  of  the  cause  above, 
Whan  he  first  made  the  fayre  cheyne  of  love,  2130 

Gret  was  theffect,  and  heigh  was  his  entente  ; 

/  '  fc>  '     X 

Wei  wiste  he  why,  and  what  therof  he  mente  ;  \ 
For  with  that  faire  cheyne  of  love  he  bond 
The  fyr,  the  eyr,  the  water,  and  the  lond 
Jn  certeyn  boundes,  that  they  may  not  flee  ;      / 
That  same  prynce  and  moevere  eek,'  quod  he, 
'  Hath  stabled,  in  this  wrecchede  world  adoun, 
Certeyne  dayes  and  duracioun 
To  alle  that  ben  engendred  in  this  place. 
Over  the  whiche  day  they  may  nat  pace, 
Al  mowe  they  _yit  tho  dayes  wel  abregge  ; 
Ther  needeth  non  auctorite  tallegge  ; 
For  it  is  preved  by  experience. 
But  that  me  lust  declare  my  sentence. 
Than  may  men  by  this  ordre  wel  discerne, 
That  thilke  moevere  stable  is  and  eterne. 
Wel  may  men  knowe,  but  it  be  a  fool, 
That  every  part  deryveth  from  his  hool. 
For  nature  hath  nat  take  his  bygynnyng 
Of  no  partye  ne  cantel  of  a  thing. 
But  of  a  thing  that  parfyt  is  and  stable, 
Descendyng  so,  til  it  be  corumpable. 
And  therfore  of  his  wyse  purveaunce 
/  He  hath  so  wel  biset  his  ordenaunce. 
That  spices  of  thinges  and  progressiouns 
Schullen  endure  by  successiouns, 
And  nat  eterne  be  withoute  lye  : 
This  maistow  understande  and  sen  at  eye. 

'  Lo  the  00k,  that  hath  so  long  a  norisschynge 


88  THE  KNIOHTES    TALE. 

Fro  tyme  that  it  gynneth  first  to  springe,  2160 

And  hath  so  long  a  lyf,  as  we  may  see,. 
Yet  atte  laste  wasted  is  the  tree. 

'  Considereth  eek,  liow  that  the  harde  stoon 
Under  oure  feet,  on  which  we  trede  and  goon, 
2^it  wasteth  it,  as  it  Hth  by  the  vveye.  2165 

The  brode  ryver  som  tyme  wexeth  dreye. 
The  grete  townes  seen  we  wane  and  wende. 
Then  may  j^e  see  that  al  this  thing  hath  ende. 

'  Of  man  and  womman  sen  we  wel  also, 
That  nedes  in  oon  of  thise  termes  two,  2170 

That  is  to  seyn,  in  youthe  or  elles  age, 
He  moot  ben  deed,  the  kyng  as  schal  a  page  ; 
Som  in  his  bed,  som  in  the  deepe  see, 
Som  in  the  large  feeld,  as  men  may  se. 
Ther  helpeth  naught,  al  goth  that  ilke  weye.  2175 

Thanne  may  I  seyn  that  al  this  thing  moot  deye. 
What  maketh  this  but  Jupiter  the  kyng? 
The  which  is  prynce  and  cause  of  alle  thing, 
Convertyng  al  unto  his  propre  welle. 
From  which  it  is  dereyved,  soth  to  telle.  2180 

And  here  agayns  no  creatui-e  on  lyve 
Of  no  degre  avayleth  for  to  stryve. 

Than  is  it  wisdom,  as  it  thinketh  me, 
To  maken  vertu  of  necessite 

And  take  it  wel,  that  we  may  nat  eschewe,  2185 

And  namelyche  that  to  us  alle  is  dewe. 
And  who  so  gruccheth  aught,  he  doth  folye. 
And  rebel  is  to  him  that  al  may  gye. 
And  certeynly  a  man  hath  most  honour 
To  deyen  in  his  excellence  and  flour,  2190 

Whan  he  is  siker  of  his  goode  name. 
Than  hath  he  doon  his  freend,  ne  him,  no  schame, 
And  gladder  oughte  his  freend  ben  of  his  deth. 
Whan  with  honour  upjolden  is  his  breth, 


THE   KNIGHTED    TALE.  89 

Thanne  whan  his  naine  appalled  is  for  age  ;  2195 

For  al  forgeten  is  his  vassehige. 

Thanne  is  it  best,  as  for  a  worthi  fame, 

To  dyen  whan  a  man  is  best  of  name. 

The  contraryc  of  al  this  is  wilfulnesse. 

Why  grncchen  we?  why  have  we  hevynesse,  2200 

That  good  Arcyte,  of  chyvalry  the  flour. 

Departed  is,  with  ducte  and  honour 

Out  of  this  foule.  prisoun  of  this  lyf? 

Why  grucchen  heer  his  cosyn  and  his  wyf 

Of  his  welfare  that  lovede  hem  so  wel  ?  2205 

Can  he  hem  thank  ?  nay,  God  woot,  never  a  del. 

That  bothe  his  soule  and  eek  hemself  oflende, 

And_yet  they  mowe  here  lustes  nat  amende. 

'  What  may  I  conclude  of  this  longe  serye, 
But  after  wo  I  rede  us  to  be  merye,  2210 

And  thanke  Jupiter  of  al  his  grace.'' 
And  or  that  we  departe  fro  this  place, 
I  rede  that  we  make,  of  sorwes  two, 
O  parfyt  joye  lastyng  ever  mo  : 

And  loketh  now  wlier  most  sorwe  is  her-inne,  1215 

Ther  wol  we  first  amenden  and  bygynne. 

'  Suster,'  quod  he,  '  this  is  my  fulle  assent. 
With  al  thavys  heer  of  my  parlement. 
That  gentil  Palamon,  _your  owne  knight. 
That  serveth_yow  with  herte,  wille,  and  might,  2220 

And  evere  hath  doon,  syn  that  ye  fyrst  him  knewe, 
That_ye  schul  of  j/oure  grace  upon  him  rewc, 
And  take  him  for  yonre  housbond  and  for  lord  : 
Leen  mej^oure  hand,  for  this  is  oure  acord. 
Let  see  now  of  jj/oure  wommanly  pite.  2225 

He  is  a  kynges  brother  sone,  pardee  ; 
And  though  he  were  a  poure  bacheler, 
Syn  he  hath  served  _you  so  many  a  yeer, 
And  had  for  jou  so  gret  adversite, 


90  THE   KNKJHTES    TALE. 

It  moste  be  considered,  leeveth  me. 

For  gentil  mercy  aughte  passe  right.' 

Than  seyde  he  thus  to  Pahimon  the  knight ; 

'  I  trowe  ther  needeth  litel  sermonyng 

To  maken  jKOu  assente  to  this  thing. 

Com  neer,  and  tak  _youre  lady  by  the  bond.' 

Bitwixe  hem  was  i-maad  anon  the  bond, 

That  highte  matrimoyn  or  mariage, 

By  al  the  counseil  and  the  baronage. 

And  thus  with  alle  blysse  and  melodye 

Hath  Palamon  i-wedded  Emelye. 

And  God,  that  al  this  wyde  world  hath  wrought, 

Sende  him  his  love,  that  hath  it  deere  a-bought. 

For  now  is  Palamon  in  alle  wele, 

Lyvynge  in  blisse,  in  richesse,  and  in  hele. 

And  Emelye  him  loveth  so  tendrely, 

And  he  hire  serveth  al  so  gentilly, 

That  nevere  was  ther  no  word  hem  bitweene 

Of  jelousye,  or  any  other  teene. 

Thus  endeth  Palamon  and  Emelye  ; 

And  God  save  al  this  fayre  companye  ! 


NOTES    TO    THE    PROLOGUE 


NOTES    TO    THE    PROLOGUE. 


I.  IVhan.     A  series  of  adverbs  of  time,  place,   and   manner,  are 
formed  from  the  pronominal  roots ;  e.g.  : 


Personal 

lie 

Demonst.  &  Rel. 

the 

Interrog- 

who 

Place 

here 

there 

where 

hither. 

thither 

whither 

hence 

thence 

whence 

Time 

then 

when 

j\Ianiier 

the,  thus 

why,  how 

f/cre,  there,  where,  are  derived  from  the  A.S.  dative  (locative)  ; 
then,  &c.,  from  the  Accusative ;  the,  hem,  &c.,  from  the  Instrumen- 
tal. The  adverb  the  must  be  distinguished  from  the  pronoun  :  as, 
the  more,  the  better  =  quo  magis,  eo  melius. 

Whan  that  =  at  what  (time)  that.  That  is  frequently  added 
to  words  originally  interrogative,  to  give  them  a  relative  force, 
e.g.,  who  that,  jvhy  that,  zvhere  that,  ivhcn  that,  &c. ;  and  by 
analogy  also  to  other  words,  to  render  them  more  or  less  indefi- 
nite, as  if  that,  though  that.  Sic-  When  the  original  force  of  the 
interrogative  was  lost,  the  that  was  omitted  as  unnecessary. 
This  may  also  be  explained  by  an  ellipsis;  thus,  "when  [it  is] 
that." 

Afrillc  =  April  (Lat.  aperirc,  to  open),  the  month  in  which 
the  year  opens. 

his-  The  neuter  pronoun  was  originally  hit,  gen.  his.  Its 
is  of  comparatively  recent  origin,  not  being  found  in  the  Bible 
except  by  misprint.  See  Craik's  E.  of  S.,  §  54;  Abbott's  Sh. 
Gram.  §  22S;  Bible  Word-Book,  sub  voc.  It. 

schowres  =  showers.  Sing,  schovjer.  The  change  of  the 
pronunciation  of  words  ending  in  re  to  cr  is  of  recent  date. 
Geo-  Gascoigne  (1576)  in  his  Notes  of  Instruction  concerning 
the  Making  of  Verse  says:  (12)  "This  poeticall  license  is  a 
shrewde  fellow,  and  couereth  many  faults  in  a  verse ;  it  maketh 


94  NOTES    TO    THE  PROLOGUE. 

words  longer,  shorter,  &c.,  .  .  it  turkeneth  (disturbs)  all  things 
at  pleasure,  for  example  ....  pozver  for  pozvre"  See  note 
1.  i8. 

Srvoote  plural  of  svjoi,  sweet.  Final  e  denotes  either  the 
plural  or  the  definite  declension.  This,  although  the  older 
form,  is  here  probably  a  mere  orthographic  variation  for  the 
sake  of  rhyme,  of  which  liberty  there  are  many  instances  in  the 
early  poets :  it  may,  however,  indicate  an  unsettled  pronun- 
ciation; cf  1.  5  also,  "me  iveleth  his  swete  swotness."  A.R.,  92. 
"Thes  cos  is  a  swetnesse  and  a  delit  of  heorte  so  unimete  swote 
and  swete."    lb.  102. 

3.  every.     Literally  ever-each  ^  ever-like-this. 

swich  =  such,  O.E.  swylc,  of  which  the  Gothic  gives  the  full 
form  swa-leiks,  in  which  swa  is  an  old  form  of  the  relative  pronoun 
preserved  in  so,  whoso. 

The  following  pronominal  roots  are  compounded  with  lie : 
i  [he)  the  who  swa 

ilke  (each).         thilke.         whilke  (which).         swilke  (such). 
licoiir.     Accent  on  ultimate,  which  shows  that  the  word  was 
considered  as  foreign. 

4.  zvkich,  O.E.  ivhilk.  Goth,  hwa-lciks,  i.e.,  like  wliat.  of 
what  kind,  (Lat.  qaa-li$)  originally  used  only  as  an  intenoga- 
tive. 

verfuc,  accent  on  ultimate.  Vital  cucrffy.  Literally,  manli- 
ness, (Lat.  vir')  hence  the  distinguishing  characteristic  of  man  oi- 
woman,  that  is,  energy  and  chastity,  bravery  standing  for  all 
good  qualities.     See  note  1.  515. 

5.  brccthc.     Final  c  denoting  dative. 

6.  holte,  heethc.     Final  c  denoting  dative. 

7  croppes.  ^5  plural  termination  ;  usually  syncopated-  From 
A.S.  crop,  the  top,  an  ear  of  corn  :  some,  however,  derive  from 
ge-rip,  what  is  reaped. 

youge  Sonne.  Because  just  entered  upon  his  annual  course 
through  the  signs  of  the  zodiac. 

8  Ram.  "  There  is  a  difference,  in  astronomy,  between  the 
sign  Aries  and  the  constellation  Aries.  In  April  the  sun  is, 
theoretically,  in  the  sign  Taurus,  but  visibly  in  the  constellation 
Aries."     M. 

halfe,  adv.  Final  c  denoting  dative,  which  in  A.S.  was 
used  adverbially.  In  half,  halt,  we  have  a  remnant  of  an  old 
word  for  one,  ha. 


NOTES    TO    THE   TROLOOUE.  95 

Ha-lf  =^  ha,  one,  Iciba,  part;  halt  is  from  the  root  liik  to  go, 
and  thus  =  one-limbed. 

i-ronne,  pp.  run.  The  prefix  /  or  y  usually  denotes  the  past 
participle  ;  A.S.  and  Ger.  ge.  It  sometimes,  however,  is  equivalent 
to  the  intensive  prefix  be ;  d.  y-ronneii.,  A.S.  be-urnen.     K  ,  1835. 

9.  makcH,  pi.  — The  present  ind.  pi.  ending  in  A.S.  was  atk, 
which  in  some  dialects  changed  to  5  as  in  the  third  sing.  The 
pr.  pi.  ending  was  on.  En  seems  to  be  the  result  of  a  tendency 
towards  uniformity.     So  also  slefcn  in  the  next  line. 

10.  that,  the  A.S.  relative;  who,  which,  what,  being  always 
interrogative. 

alle  7iight,  ace.  of  time.  "  The  extent  of  time  and  space  is 
put  in  the  accusative  after  verbs."  March,  A.S.  Gr.,  §  295.  We 
still  say  all  night,  all  day,  but,  except  in  such  idiomatic  expres- 
sions, we  prefix  the  article;  as,  all  the  year ;  cf.  "  He  continued 
all  night  in  prayer."  Luke  vi.  12.  "  He  was  al  nyght  dweliinge 
in  the  preier  of  God."  lb.  ;  Wiclif.  To  denote  time  -when  tlie  A.S. 
used  the  genitive  or  dative,  which  idiom  we  have  still  preserved, 
although  we  have  lost  the  case  termination.  "But  (she)  served 
God  with  fastings  and  prayers  night  and  day."  Luke  ii.  37. 
"  Daeges  and  nihtes  theowigende."  A.S.  In  such  expressions 
we  also  denote  the  case  relation  by  a  preposition ;  as,  by  night. 

Morris  reads,  "  al  the  night."  I  follow  Tyrwhitt  as  being 
more  idiomatic;  cf.  alday.     K.,  522. 

eyhe  =eye.     A.S.  eage ;  _^  changing  inio y ;  cf.  daeg,  day. 

11.  priketh  =  inciteth,  spurreth.  It  sometimes  means  to  ride 
on  horseback  ;  as,  — 

"A  gentle  knight  was  pricking  on  the  plaine."     F.C^,  i.  i,  §  i. 

//ew:=them.  A.S.  him.  We  have  taken  the  A.S.  dative  for 
our  ace.  or  objective  case  of  the  pronouns,  as  the  modern 
French  forms  the  nominative  case  of  nouns  from  the  Latin  ac- 
cusative. The  form  them  has  been  assumed  from  the  plural  of 
the  demonstrative  se,  seo,  thaet.  Hem  is  still  in  colloquial  use; 
as,  "  Give  'em  to  me."  This  affords  a  good  illustration  of  the 
growth  of  language;  the  plural  of  the  personal  pronouns  has 
disappeared,  while  its  place  has  been  filled  by  the  plural, of  the 
definite  article,  for  which  we  had  no  further  use. 

nature,  accented  on  the  ultimate. 

here  =  their,  of  them.  A.S.  hcora,  gen.  pi.  =  of  them.  See 
remarks  on  he7n.  Cf.  "here  a\ler  cappe,"  p.  5S6  =  the  caps  of 
them  all. 


96  NOTES    TO   THE  PROLOGUE. 

corages^i  hearts.  We  use  heart  in  this  sense;  as,  "to  take 
heart." 

12.  Z'/^a^«ie=  then.  See  note  l.i.  T'/^ew  and /^rtw  were  origi- 
nally the  same  word,  and  in  E.E.  there  is  great  confusion  in  their 
orthography;  then  being  usually  written  than,  and  than,  then. 
"The  Cambric  (is)  sooner  stayned  then  the  course  canvas." 
"  When  parents  have  more  care  how  to  leave  their  children 
wealthy //^ew  wise,  and  are  more  desirous  to  have  them  mainteine 
the  name  then  the  nature  of  a  gentleman."  Euphues,  Arber's 
ed.  p.  34. 

To  ffon^  to  go,  infinitive.  The  A.S.  inf.  ending  was  an, 
which  changed  to  en;  then  dropped  the  «,  and  finally  the  e, 
whicli  brings  us  to  the  present  form. 

13.  palmers,  strictly  persons  who  had  made  a  pilgrimage  to 
the  Holy  Land,  and  brought  back  a  palm  branch  as  a  token  : 
here  used  as  synonymous  vi\W\  filgrim.  A  palmer  was  one  who 
made  a  business  of  visiting  shrines,  while  a  pilgrim  was  one  who 
made  such  a  journey  in  pursuance  of  a  vow,  and  then  returned 
to  his  usual  avocation. 

for  to  seeken.  The  A.S.  verb,  besides  the  common  infinitive, 
had  another  substantive  form  of  the  verb,  answering  to  the 
dative  case  of  the  infinitive,  which  is  called  the  gerund,  and 
which  was  always  preceded  by  to,  while  the  infinitive  wanted 
this  prefix.  This  gerund  denoted  the  action  rather  than  the  act. 
Having  lost  the  power  of  distinguishing  cases  by  terminations, 
the  construction  was  indicated  by  prepositions,  as  in  the  case 
of  nouns;  the  infinitive  taking  the  prefix  to,  and  the  dative  or 
gerundial  infinitive  prefixing  for  to  the  regular  infinitive.  To 
sccken  must  be  construed  as  a  verbal  in  the  dative  aftev  for.  We 
find  the  gerundial  construction  in  E.E.  without  for,  thus  adopt- 
ing the  A.S.  construction.  "  Art  thou  he  that  art  to  cummynge." 
Matt.  xi.  3;  Wiclif.  "  Eart  thu  the  to  cumenne  eart."  A.S. 
But  the  gerund  without  for,  generally  in  E.E.,  and  always  in 
modern  English,  appears  in  the  form  of  the  present  participle; 
e.  g.,  "  Nyle  ye  gesse  that  I  am  to  accusinge  you."  Jno.  v.  45; 
Wiclif.  "  .Seeing  is  believing."  This  gerundial  in  modern  Eng- 
lish is  inflected  in  all  the  cases,  with  the  prepositions  for,  to, 
ox  a,  e.  g.,  "He  has  a  strong  passion  for  painting;"  "I  go  a- 
fishing."  Sometimes  the  gerundial  has  the  form  of  the  infinitive, 
from  which  it  must  then  be  carefully  distinguished.  "  And  fools 
who  came  to  scoff"  remained  to  pray."     The  following  observa- 


.\UTKS    TO    Till':    I'UOLOUUE.  97 

tions  may  aid  in  tlistingaishing  gerundial  forms  from  infinitives, 
and  from  nouns  and  participles  in  ing :  (a)  An  iujhiitive  is 
always  either  the  subject  or  object  of  a  verb;  as,  ''To  err  is 
human;"  '"He  told  ine  to  go."  Gerundial  forms  are  found, 
however,  after  intransitive  and  passive  verbs.  "Why  run  to 
meet  what  you  would  most  avoid .-*"  "Slain  to  make  a  Roman 
holiday."  (b)  Gerundial  fjrms  are  often  connected  with  adjec- 
tives or  nouns,  apparently  being  governed  by  them;  as,  "Apt 
to  teach  ;  "  "  A  time  to  build  ;  "  "  A  house  to  let."  (c)  If  ending 
in  i)ig,  gerundials  may  be  governed  by  a  preposition,  and  also 
govern  a  case ;  as,  "  He  spent  a  fortune  in  educating  his  son." 
The  primary  object  of  the  gerundial  form  is  to  express  purpose, 
fitness,  &c.,  —  to  consider  the  act  done  rather  than  the  doing  it. 
The  distinction  between  these  two  meanings  of  the  modern  Eng- 
lish infinitive  is  important,  because  difterent  A.S.  forms  are  rep- 
resented, and  because  they  correspond  to  dilYerent  constructions 
in  the  classic  languages.     Partly  from  Angus's  Handbook,  p.  205. 

14.  to  feme  kahves.  Construe  with  loiigoi  to  gon.  Read  : 
"Then  people  long  to  go  on  pilgrimages  to  distant  shrines." 

15.  sckires,  gen.  oi schire. 

e«</e  =  extremity.  "  His  going  forth  is  from  the  end  of  the 
heaven,  and  his  circuit  unto  the  ends  of  it."     Ps.  xix.  6. 

16    Engelo7id ;  i.e.,  land  of  the  Angles,  —  England. 

CcDitiirbiiry^  three  syllables. 

zvend  =  go.  Went,  the  assumed  pret.  of  go,  is  the  pret.  of 
wend.  The  original  pret  of  go  was  eodeoryode,  which  indicates 
the  root  to,  from  which  go  has  been  derived  by  strengthening  / 
intojv  and  then  into  ^.  We  still  use  the  expression  "Wending 
one's  way." 

17.  holy.  A.S.  halig,  hal,  hale;  ig,  adj.  termination.  It  is 
curious  to  notice  that  the  words  in  A.S.  denoting  virtues  and 
vices  are  the  same  as  those  which  denote  bodily  graces  or  de- 
fects; as,  halig,  holy,  from  hale,  whole,  sound;  wrong  from 
zvrhigan,  to  twist;  wicked  from  -wicaii,  to  yield  :  A  holy  man  is 
a  healthy  man ;  a  wicked  man  is  a  weak  man ;  a  wrong  action 
is  an  action  wrung  or  twisted  out  of  proper  shape. 

martir,  Thomas  a  Becket. 
for  to  see ke  =^  (or  to  seeken.     See  1.  13  and  note. 

18.  That  ^=yfho-  The  A.S.  relative  was  that,  who  being  al- 
ways interrogative. 

holpeti  p.p.  of  helpen. 

7 


98  NOTES   TO   THE   PROLOGUE. 

ixjJtaii  that.  See  note  1.  i.  Such  expressions  reveal  the  pro- 
nominal force  of  the  adverb,  that  referring  to  zvhen  considered  as 
a  pronoun.  As  the  interrogative  force  oi -who  and  its  derivatives 
was  lost,  the  relative  word  was  dropped. 

seeke  =  sick,  ill.  This  use  of  the  word  is  now  called  an  Ameri- 
canism, the  English  having  restricted  its  use  to  nausea.  The 
orthography  is  varied  for  the  sake  of  the  rhyme.  "It  is  some- 
what more  tolerable  to  help  the  rime  by  false  orthographic  then 
to  leaue  an  vnpleasant  dissonance  to  the  eare  by  keeping  trewe 
orthographic  and  loosing  the  rime  ;  as,  for  example,  it  is  better  to 
rime  Doye  with  Restore.,  then  in  his  truer  orthographic  which  is 
Doorc ;  and  to  this  word  Desire  to  say  Fier,  then  fyre,  though 
it  be  otherwise  better  written  fire.'''  Puttenham's  Arte  of  Poesie, 
ii.  8. 

19.  Byfcl.     Construe  with  '^vas  come,  1.  23. 

that,  dem.  pron.  Whenever  in  a  sentence  a  leading  element 
is  replaced  by  a  sentence  which,  for  emphasis  or  grace,  is  thrown 
out  of  its  natural  position,  or  when  placed  at  such  a  distance 
from  the  leading  verb  as  otherwise  to  form  a  blind  construction, 
the  demonstrative  pronoun  that  is  used  to  call  attention  to  the 
element  already  or  hereafter  to  be  introduced  :  e.g.,  "  To  be  or 
not  to  be,  that  is  the  question  ;  "  "  We  hear  it  not  seldom  said 
that  ignorance  is  the  mother  of  admiration  "  =  We  not  seldom 
hear  ignorance  is,  &c.,  said.  "  We  cannot  place  a  verb  or  a 
sentence  in  the  accusative  relation  without  prefixing  to  it  a  con- 
junction; i.e.,  a  pronoun  which  is  the  bearer  of  the  case  rehitior. 
in  which  the  sentence  appears."  Bopp,  Comp.  Gr.,  1414.  Some 
grammarians  call  that,  when  so  used,  the  "  sentence  article," 
which  is  perhaps  its  best  and  most  expressive  designation.  The 
demonstrative  force  of  the  word  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  when 
the  exact  words  of  another  are  quoted,  that  is  omitted,  as  :  "  He 
said  '  I  will  come ' "  =  He  said  that  he  would  come.  We  use  the 
definite  article  similarly  before  nouns  in  the  predicate;  as,  '•  He 
spoke  the  truth."  When  the  language  was  inflected,  pronouns 
being  the  most  highly  inflected  of  the  parts  of  speech,  the 
demonstrative  would  by  its  terminations  indicate  most  clearly 
the  construction.  Thus,  in  Greek,  the  infinitive  or  a  sentence 
may  be  construed  as  a  substantive  ;  the  construction  in  such  cases 
being  always  shown  by  the  inflection  of  the  neuter  article  pre- 
fixed, which  exactly  corresponds  to  the  case  under  consideration. 
In  the  case  now  before  us,  that  calls  the  attention  to  the  fact  that 


NOTES    TO    Till-:    rUolJXnJE.  QQ 

the  subject  of  bjfcl  has  not  been  introduced  ;   it  therefore  quali- 
fies "Wei  nyne  and  twenty,  &c.,  was  come." 

That  in  such  cases  is  also  sometimes  explained  as  having  a 
r.'latival  force,  but  it  is  better  considered  as  a  substantival  si/ni 
See  also  note  1.  43. 

20.  Tabard.  "  A  jaquet  or  slevelesse"  coat  worne  in  times 
past  by  noblemen  in  the  warres,  but  now  only  by  heraults  [her- 
alds], and  is  called  theyre  'coate  of  amies  in  servise.'  It  is  the 
signe  of  an  inne  in  Southwarke  by  London,  within  the  which 
was  the  lodging  of  the  Abbot  of  Hyde  by  Winchester.  This 
is  the  hostelrie  where  Chaucer  and  the  other  pilgrims  mett  to- 
gether, and,  with  Henry  Baily,  their  hoste,  accorded  about  the 
manner  of  their  journey  to  Canterbury."     Speght. 

23.  ivas  cflinc.  An  intransitive  pluperfect  form.  Intransilives 
in  A.S.  formed  the  perfect  and  pluperfect  with  the  auxiliary  to 
be,  as  ic  eom,  waes  cumen  ;  ic  si,  waere  cumen. 

hostelrie,  a  lodging,  an  inn,  usually  abbreviated  into  hotel. 
"  Hostler  properly  signifies  the  keeper  of  an  inn,  and  not,  as 
now,  the  servant  who  looks  after  the  horses."  M.  We  still 
call  the  keeper  of  an  inn  "mine  host." 

24.  PFel  =  iu\\,  adv. 

In  a  company.  We  would  now  omit  the  article,  which  here 
has  the  force  of  one  ;  in  one  company,  i.e.,  together. 

25.  Of  sondry  folk=^oi  various  kinds,  different  classes  of 
people  ;  gen.  after  numerals. 

folk,  coll.  noun  =  people.      This  word  has  no  plural  form. 

by  aventiire  if alle  =  hy  chance  fallen  into  fellowship  or  com- 
pany. 

aventure  =  ad-venture.  By  aventure  =  Fr.  peradventure. 
We  find  at  a  venture  =  ?X  aventure,  and  adventure.  "A  cer 
tain  man  drew  a  bow  at  a  venture."      i  Kg.  xxii.  34. 

26.  felaivschipe,  fellowship.  From  felaw,  a  companion. 
The  suffix  ship  (from  A.S.  scapan,  to  make)  denotes  state, 
office  ;  cf.  landscape. 

thei.  It  is  worthy  of  notice  that  Chaucer  always  uses  the 
personal  forms  here,  hem  for  the  oblique  cases,  but  the  demon- 
strative form  thei  for  the  nominative  pUiral  of  the  personal 
pronouns. 

A  lie,  dissyllable.      Final  e  denotes  the  plural. 

27.  wolden,  pr.  pi.  of  will. 
ryrtV^iriden,  inf.;  final  e  sounded. 


lOO  XOTES    TO    THE    rUoLUUiJE. 

c//ambi'cs  -  -  siablcs,  private  and  public  rooms.  (?)     Stable  lit- 
erally means  a  standiiig  place,   hut    in    this  connection   perhaps 
alludes  to  the  public  rooms  of  the    inn  (the  standing  places),  as 
compared  with  the  private  rooms  or  chambers  (sleeping  places). 
"  And  he  .  .  .  ledde  into  a  stable  and  dide  the  cure  of  hym." 

Luke  X.  34.     Wiclif. 
"  Thcr  was  not  place  to  hym  in  the  comyn  stable." 

Luke  ii.  7.     lb. 

29.  tvcl — cscd :  a  translation  of  the  French  ^/e«  rt/5e5.  Easy 
retains  this  force  in  such  expressions  as  "A  man  in  crt.sj circum- 
stances." 

rt//e  =  at  the,  O.E.  at  than,  attcn,  A.S.  at  t/iain.  Atte  is  usu- 
ally followed  bj  the  dative  as  in  E.E  ,  and  when  followed  by  a 
feminine  noun  the  corresponding  form  is  attcr. 

beste,  adjective  in  dative,  used  adverbially  with  ellipsis  of 
noun. 

30.  sc/iortly=\n  a  little  while. 

to  rente  =  at  rest ;  i.e.,  had  set.  To  and  at  are  different  forms 
of  the  same  word  ;   cf.  Lat.  ad. 

31.  So  correlates  with  t/iat  in  next  line. 

Everyc/ion  ^  every  one.  The  v  in  every  represents  the  worti 
eac/i,  and  thus  gives  to  the  word  its  distributive  force. 

32.  /lere  =  their,  gen.  pi  ,  used  adjectively. 

anou  =^in  one  (moment).     an  =  in.     Gower  writes  "in  one." 
"And  loke  upon  her  ever  in  one."     Con.  Am.,  iii.  28. 
"  But  ever  in  one  min  eye  longeth."     lb.,  29. 

',3.  made,  dissyllable ;  contracted  from  maked. 

34.  thcr  as  I yo-u  devyse^=  to  that  place  that  I  speak  to  30U  of. 
Thcr  rt5  =  where.  When  followed  by  a.s-,  thcr  seems  to  retain  its 
pronominal  force,  while  as  serves  as  its  correlative  pronoun. 
When  the  pronominal  force  was  wholly  lost,  as  was  dropped. 

Where  was  originally  used  only  as  an  interrogative. 

devyse  =  to  speak  of.  We  still  use  advise  in  the  same  sense ; 
as,  "  He  was  advised  of  the  fact." 

35.  natheles  =  none-the-less,  nevertheless;  cf.  Lat.  quouiinus. 
■whiles  =  whilst.     The  O.E.  hzvilc  is  still   in   good   colloquial 

u.se,  the  comparatively  modern  form  whilst  being  generally  i)rL- 
ferred  in  written  discourse. 

36.  Or  that  ==  before  that,  ere  that.     Or  ^  A.S.  aer,  ere. 
"  Clear  was  the  day  as  I  have  told  or  this."     K.,  825. 
"  Or  ever  thou  hadst  formed  the  earth."     Ps.  xc.  2. 


NOTES    TO    THE    I'ROLOCWE.  lOI 

37.  Metliinketh  =  it  seems  (proper)  to  me.  Me  is  dative  after 
the  so-called  impersonal  construction.  In  A.S.  this  verb  had 
two  forms,  —  an  active,  i/iencati,  to  think,  and  an  intransitive. 
i/iiucan,  to  seem.  We  have  confused  the  two  verbs  in  modern 
English  by  spelling  both  alike;  whilst  in  the  case  oCsef,  si'i ;  lay, 
lie,  we  have  retained  the  distinction  in  the  spelling  as  well  as 
in  the  sense.  "And  the  watchman  said.  Me  thinketh  the  run- 
ning of  the  foremost,"  etc.  2  Sam.  xviii.  27.  We  still  use  me- 
tkinks,  but  without  any  conception  of  its  true  construction.  The 
grammatical  subject  of  thinketh  is  the  inf.  to  telle,  which  is  here 
anticipated  by  it,  according  to  our  common  idiom;  it,  therefore, 
refers  to  to  telle  as  its  antecedent. 

In  illustration  of  this  construction  compare  the  expression 
"  If  you  please,"  where  r<?«  is  dative,  and  please  a  subjunctive  by 
inflection. 

accordant  to  =  according  to,  with  the  French  participial  ending. 

resoim,  accented  on  the  ultimate. 

38.  To  telle^=to  tellcn.    Final  c  sounded. 
yorv,  dative  after  to  telle, 
con-di-ci-oun. 

39.  he7n  =  them. 

so  as:  so  limits  to  telle ;  as  (also)  is  a  conjunction. 
it  seinede  me  =  \t  seemed  to  me.     Me,  dative. 

40.  xvhich  (A.S.  hwy-lic,  like  what)  here  means  -vhat  sort  of 
■persons,  noting  an  indirect  question. 

tfe^re  =  degree,  station  in  life.  This  word  originallj'  denoted 
the  steps,  or  seats  in  an  amphitheatre  arranged  in  the  form  of 
steps,  and  came,  as  here,  to  denote  rank,  from  the  custom  of  as- 
signing certain  seats  to  the  different  classes  of  society;  cf.de- 
g'rade^=to  seat  one  lower;  of.  also  K.,  11.  576,  1032. 

41.  zvkat  array  that.  The  relative  that  is  added  because  of  the 
interrogative  force  of  -Mhat :  it  is  also  added  to  all  cases  of  ivho, 
which,  rvhat,  to  form  the  relative.  The  full  construction  would 
be,  "  In  what  array  it  was  that  they  were  in." 

Inne.  adv.     In  O.E    the  prep,  is  in,  the  adv.  i^ine. 

42.  kniffht.  "It  was  a  common  thing  in  this  age  for  knights 
to  seek  employment  in  foreign  countries  which  were  at  war."    M. 

tha?i  =  then. 

^V^/««e  =  begin  ;  inf.  e  final  is  sounded  as  sign  of  the  inf. 
By  has  been  corrupted  into  be  in  several  words;  e.g.,  because  for 
bycause. 


I02  NOTES    TO    THE  PROLOGUE. 

43.  t/ier,  indefinite  pronoun,  and  like  it  used  to  anticipate 
or  designate  the  subject,  which  is  usually  introduced  subse- 
quently :  the  expression  here  is  equivalent  to,  "  Ther  was  a 
knight,"  but  poetic  license  has  restored  the  order,  although  the 
word  which  denotes  the  inversion  in  prose  is  still  retained.  Tker 
acts  like  a  demonstrative,  calling  attention  to  the  subject,  if  already 
introduced,  or  anticipating  it  if  placed  after  the  verb  ;  and  its  use 
is  best  explained  by  f/iai  (see  note,  1.  19)  when  used  to  call  atten- 
tion to  a  leading  element,  either  by  way  of  emphasis,  or  for  the 
sake  of  clearness.  That  /here  in  such  cases  is  a  pronoun,  and 
not  an  adverb  or  an  expletive  as  it  is  sometimes  called,  may  be 
seen  by  a  comparison  of  the  two  words  thus  used,  viz  ,  it  and 
tJicre^  as  the  same  reasoning  will  apply  to  both;  cf.  '•  T/iaer 
weard  geworden  micel  eorthbifung."  A.S.  "^sgeschah  ein 
grosses  erdheben."  Ger.  Matt,  xxviii.  2.  Cf.  also,  "  Tliese  are 
times  that  try  men's  souls,"  and,  "There  are  times  that  try  men's 
souls."  The  first  expression  =  "  These  times  try  men's  souls  ;  " 
the  second  =  "  Certain  times  try  men's  souls."  The  first  is  a 
definite  statement;  the  second  is  indefinite:  the  difterence  is, 
of  course,  due  to  the  subject,  which  in  one  case  is  a  definite  de- 
monstrative, and  in  the  other  an  indefinite  demonstrative. 

a?id  that  ^^nd  that  one  (he).  The  demonstrative  is  used  to 
emphasize  the  word  to  which  it  refers.  Cf.  Gr.  kul  tovto,  Eph. 
ii.  8.  "  We  still  use  '  and  that'  to  give  emphasis,  and  call  atten- 
tion to  an  additional  circumstance;  e.g.,  'He  was  condemned, 
a>/d  that  imheard. '  "    Abbott,  Sh.  Gr.,  §  70. 

44.  ihat^yv\\o\  to  be  construed  with  he  in  next  line.  We 
also  find  that  his  = -whose.  K.,  1852.  That  ^/;«  =  whom  ;  %vho 
being  used  interrogatively,  and  that  being  a  general  relative  was 
rendered  definite  by  the  addition  of  the  personal  pronoun,  which 
could  not  be  used  relatively  without  some  relative  word.  We 
have  obviated  the  difficulty  by  using  -vho  as  a  personal  relative, 
retaining  the  indefinite  relative  that. 

45.  c^v"'rt/;'j'(?  =  the  profession  of  a  knight.  Y.  chevalier.  The 
Lat.  caballtis  has  passed  into  English  as  cob,  with  a  singular 
change  in  meaning,  not  denoting  a  spirited  horse,  but  the  re- 
verse. 

46.  honour,  fredom,  accented  on  the  ultimate. 
curtesie  =  courtly  manners. 

"  I  take  thy  word. 
And  trust  thy  honest  offered  courtesy, 


NOTES    TO    THE    I'h'OLOOUE.  103 

Which  oft  is  sooner  found  in  lowly  sheds 
With  smoky  rafters,  than  in  tapestry  halls 
And  courts  of  princes,  where  it  first  was  named 
And  yet  is  most  pretended." 

Comus,  322. 

47.  hordes,  gen.  of  lord, —  lord's,  —  the  apostrophe  inarking 
the  elision  of  the  vowel. 

48.  hadde.  pronounced  had. 
ride7i,  p.p.  =  ridden. 

ferre,  comp.  of  far.  Thus,  also,  c^^yve  =  dearer ;  ner  — 
nearer ;  sarre  =  sorer ;  warre  =  worse. 

49.  Christendom  —  hethejiesse  =^'\x\  Christian  lands  —  heathen 
countries.  Hethenesse  is  from  the  root  heath  =  the  open  countiy. 
The  same  low  idea  of  the  morals  of  countr\'  people  is  seen  in  the 
word  -fiillaiu,  which  means  villager ;  that  is,  the  person  attacheti 
to  the  villa  or  farm  as  opposed  to  citizen. 

As  in,  to  be  read  '5  in. 

50.  hotioured,  supply  he  tvas. 

Scan  :   And  ev  |  ere  hon  |  oured  for  |  his  worth  |  inesse. 

51.  Alisatidre.  "Alexandria  was  won  (and  immediately  after 
abandoned)  in  1365,  by  Pierre  de  Lusignan,  King  of  Cyprus. 
Walsingham  says:  '  Interfuerunt  autem  huic  captione  cum  rege 
CyprijB  plures  Anglici.' "     T. 

52.  Fill  ofte  tyme^^hxW  many  a  time,  —  very  many  times. 
He  hadde  the  bord  bygonne.     "  He  had  been  placed   at  the 

head  of  the  table,  the  usual  compliment  to  extraordinary  merit." 
T.  Mr.  Marsh  suggests  (which  suggestion  is  adopted  by  Mor- 
ris) th^tbord'x?,  the  LowGer.  boort,]o\.\i^\.,  tournament.  Wrighfs 
Diet.  Ob.  and  Prov.  Eng.  gives  '■'■  Bordes  (A.  N.  behordeis) 
tournaments;  "  but  the  following  extract  from  Gower's  Confessio 
Amantis,  iii.  298,  would  seem  to  be  conclusi\e  in  favor  of 
Tyrwhitt's  explanation  :  — 

"The  floure  of  all  the  town  was  there 

And  of  the  court  also  there  were. 

And  that  was  in  a  large  place 

Right  even  before  the  Kinges  face, 

Whiche  Artestrates  thanne  bight. 

The  pley  was  pleied  right  in  his  sight. 

And  who  most  worthy  was  of  dede 

Hcceivc  he  shulde  a  certain  tnede, 

And  in  the  citee  here  a  price  \^frize']. 


I04  NOTES    TO    THE   PROLOGUE. 

Appollinus,  which  ware  and  wise, 
Of  every  game  couth  an  ende  [a  />ari'\, 
He  thought  assay,  howso  it  wende. 
And  fell  among  hem  into  game, 
And  there  he  wanne  him  such  a  name 
So  as  the  king  himself  accompteth 
That  he  all  other  men  surmounteth. 
And  bare  the  prise  above  hem  alle. 
The  king  bad  that  into  his  halle 
At  souper  time  he  shall  be  brought. 

At  souper  time  netheles 

The  king  amiddes  all  the  pres 

Let  clepe  him  up  amonge  hem  alle 

And  bad  his  mareshall  of  his  halle 

To  setten  him  /«  sue//  degre 

That  he  upon  hi'tn  mighte  se. 
The  king  was  sone  sette  and  served 

And  he  which  had  his  prise  deserved, 

After  the  kinges  owne  worde 

Was  made  bcghi  a  middcl  horde 

That  bothe  king  and  queue  him  sigh  \jnight  sce\'''' 
53.  Above7i  alle  7/aciouiis.  He  took  the  precedence  of  the  rep- 
resentatives of  all  other  nations  at  the  Court  of  Prussia.  "When 
our  English  knights  wanted  employment,  it  was  usual  for  lliem 
to  go  and  serve  in  Priicc  or  Prussia,  with  the  Knights  of  the 
Teutonic  order,  who  were  in  a  state  of  constant  warfare  with 
their  heathen  neighbors  in  Lettow  (Lithuania),  Ruce  (Russia), 
and  elsewhere."    T. 

Priice  ;   i.e.  Borussia  ^  Lower  Russia. 

55.  Read  :  "  No  Christian  man  of  his  rank  had  reysed  (raided) 
so  often  in  Lithuania  and  in  Ruscia." 

56.  Gerfiade^=  Granada.     Algezir  was  taken  from  the  Moor- 
ish king  of  Granada  in  1344. 

atte  =  at  the.     See  note,  1.  29. 

^e  =  been.     The  final  en  dropped  as  in  the  infinitives.     The 
A.S.  dean  had  no  past  participle;  cf.  ydo  =  ydon. 

57.  riden  =  ridden.     Pronounced  ri'd'n. 

'■'■  Belmarie    and     Tremassene    were    Moorish    kingdoms    in 
Africa."     M. 

58.  Lieys  in  Armenia  was  taken  from  the  Turks  by  Pierre  de 


NOTES    TO    THE   I'ROLOUUE.  105 

Lusignan  about  1367,  and    Saialic   (Atlalia)  by  tlie  same  prince 
soon  after. 

59.  Grccte  See  =  that  part  of  the  Mediterranean  between  tlie 
Greek  islands  and  the  coast  of  Sjria  "  Ye  shall  even  have  the 
great  sea  for  a  border."     Numb,  xxxiv.  6. 

60.  arive.  Literally  a  landing,  an  arrival,  but  here  denoting 
a  hostile  landing.  Terms  denoting  travel  in  E.E.  denote  quite 
frequently  warlike  movements;  cf.  rider,  Ger.  ritter=  a  warrior. 

"Fro  thenne  he  goth  toward  Itaile 
By  ship,  and  there  his  arrivaile 
Hath  take,  and  shope  him  for  to  ride  [r««Vf]." 

Gower,  ii.  4. 
"And  forth  he  goth,  as  nought  ne  were. 
To  Troy,  and  was  the  firste  there, 
Which  londeth  and  toke  arrivaile, 
For  him  was  lever  in  the  bataile, 
He  saith,  to  deien  as  a  knight 
Than  for  to  live  in  all  his  might 
And  be  reproved  of  his  name."     lb.,  66. 
"Tho  saw  I  eke  all  the  arivaile 
That  ^neas  had  made  in, Itaile."     H.  of  F.,  i.  451. 
Scan  :  At  man  |  y  a  no  |  bl'  arriv  |  e  hadde  ]  he  be. 
Tyrwhitt  reads  armce. 

61.  mortal  battailles  =  deadly  conflicts ;  as  distinguished  from 
mere  tournaments  or  listes,  as  in  1.  63,  which  denotes  single 
combat  or  duel. 

battailles,  battles.  Primary  signification,  the  blows  given  in 
combat;  hence  a  company  of  men  engaged  in  battle.  "Their 
battles  are  at  hand."     Shak.  J.  C,  v.  i.  (i.e.,  battalions). 

62.  foughten,  p.p.,  sc  kadde. 

63.  /ys/c5  =  tournaments ;  single  combats.  So  called  from 
the  line  (Lat.  liciuni)  enclosing  the  field  of  combat. 

"The  field  with  listes  was  all  about  enclosed, 
To  barre  the  prease  of  people  farre  away." 

Spertser,  F.  Q^,  iv.  3,  §  4. 
Listes  also  denotes  the  enclosed  space  :  — 
"At  last  arriving  by  the  listes  side, 
Shee  with  her  rod  did  softly  smite  the  raile." 

F.  Q^.  iv.  3,  §  46. 
ay  =  alway,  i.e.,  each  time;   not  as  now  denoting  continuous 
duration. 


Io6  NOTES   TO    THE   PROLOGUE. 

64.  tlke^=  same;  cf.  "of  that  ilk." 

65.  Some  tyme  =  at  one  time.  Some  is  the  A.S.  indefinite 
pronoun.     Sum  man  =  aliquis.     Tyme  in  the  ace.  of  time. 

/f^^<f :=  sovereign.  "Lord,  which  in  modern  English  has 
become  synonymous  with  nobleman,  was  in  A.S.  hlaford,  which 
is  supposed  by  some  to  mean,  —  ord,  the  origin  of,  hlaf,  loaf; 
while  others  look  upon  it  as  a  corruption  of  hlaf-rveard,  the 
warder  of  bread.  It  corresponds  to  the  German  Brot-her>\  and 
meant  originally  employer,  master,  lord."  Max  Miiiler.  But  this 
etymology  is  doubtful.     See  note  under  1.  601. 

Palatye  in  Anatolia;  one  of  the  lordships  held  by  Christian 
knights  under  the  Turks. 

66.  Jicthene-,  sc  king.  "The  word  /leai/ien  acquired  its  mean- 
ing from  the  fact  that,  at  the  introduction  of  Christianity  into 
Germany,  the  wild  dwellers  on  the  heaths  [open  country]  longest 
resisted  the  truth."     Trench  on  Words. 

"  Hethen  is  to  mene  after  heeth  and  untiled  erthe." 

Piers  PI. 

67.  sovcrcyn  frys  =  a  superior  renown  :  the  highest  praise. 

68.  though  that  =  though.  This  expression  is  perhaps  best 
explained  by  considering  it  as  elliptical,  and  supplying  //  be,  as 
in  the  expression  "if  so  be  that." 

69.  of  his  port  =  in  his  deportment;  an  imitation  of  the  A.S. 
gen.  of  part  or  relation.     See  March,  A.S.  Gr.,  §  321. 

mayde  =  a  maiden.  This  word  in  the  A.S.  has  a  variety  of 
meanings;  e.g.,  maid,  daughter,  family,  relation,  tribe,  people, 
country.  From  the  "oot  magatt,  to  be  able,  whence  also  the  form 
maeg,  in  the  masculine,  denoting  son,  relation,  neighbor.  The 
literal  meaning  would  therefore  be  "the  strength  of  a  family," 
a  designation  peculiarly  applicable  to  children  when  each  family 
composed  a  clan,  which  would  be  strengthened  as  well  by  the 
matrimonial  alliances  of  the  daughters,  as  by  the  number  of  the 
sons. 

70.  tio  —  ne.  In  E.E.  as  in  French,  the  noun  and  the  verb 
were  each  negatived,  tfie  two  negations  not  making  an  affirma- 
tive.    We  have  here  three  negatives,  nevet no  —  7ie. 

vilonye  ^  conduct  unbecoming  a  gentleman.  "The  word 
villaifi  is,  first,  the  serf  or  peasant;  villatms,  because  attached  to 
the  villa  or  farm.  He  is,  secondly,  the  peasant,  who,  it  is  fur- 
ther taken  for  granted,  will  be  churlish,  selfish,  dishonest,  and 
generally  of  evil   moral  conditions;   those   having  come  to  be 


NOTES    TO    THE    I'ROI.OGUE.  107 

assumed  as  always  belonging  to  him,  and  to  be  permanently 
associated  with  his  name,  by  those  higher  classes  of  society  who, 
in  the  main,  commanded  the  springs  of  language.  At  the  third 
step,  nothing  of  the  meaning  which  the  etymology  suggests, 
nothing  of  the  villa  survives  any  longer;  the  peasant  is  wholly 
dismissed,  and  the  evil  moral  conditions  of  him  who  is  called  by 
this  name  alone  remain;  so  that  the  name  would  now,  in  this  its 
final  stage,  be  applied  as  freely  to  peer,  if  he  deserved  it,  as  to 
peasant."     Trench,  Eng.  Past  and  Pres  ,  262. 

The  villain  or  villein  in  England  was  a  feudal  tenant  of  the 
lowest  class,  and  hence  the  transfer  of  meaning  in  the  woid  had 
probably  a  better  foundation  than  aristocratic  pride. 

71.  manor  ivig/it  ^=  manner  of  wight;  sort  of  person.  In 
E.E.  0/  is  omitted  after  manner.  "And  all  manner  vessels  of 
ivory,  and  all  manner  vessels  of  most  precious  wood."  Rev. 
xviii.  12. 

"  So  in  swiche  maner  rime  is  Dantes  tale."     C  T.,  6709. 

72  f er/-«y  =  true.  In  E.E.  used  as  an  adjective.  "  Art  thou 
my  very  son  Esau.'"  Gen.  xxvii.  25.  '•  Very  God  of  verj'  God." 
Creed. 

^e;//'//=:  noble ;  with  the  manners  of  the  higher  orders  of 
society  ;  well-bred.  This  word  comes  from  the  Latin  getis^  which 
signified  a  clan,  and  was  used  particularly  to  designate  those 
patrician  families  who  had  descended  from  the  senators  selected 
by  Romulus  and  Tarquin.  Gentile  is  the  same  word,  meaning 
the  clans  or  tribes;  hence  all  clans  but  ours.  Cf.  genteel, 
gentleman. 

73.  But  —  i.e.,  "I  will  omit  further  encomium." 
yow,  dative,  indirect  object  of  telle. 

a^;'rtj  =  outfit.  "  Whos  schulen  tho  thingis  be  that  thou 
hast  arayed."     Luke  xii.  20;  Wiclif. 

74.  ne  —  nought,  the  usual  double  negative. 

nought  =  in  no  respect  (from  A.S.  na — rviht).  We  use  the 
full  form  as  a  noun,  and  the  contracted  form  as  the  adverb; 
cf.  naughti  nought,  not. 

gay=  lively,  fast.  Morris  says  :  "  Gay  here  seems  to  signify 
decked  out  in  various  colors,"  but  we  still  speak  of  a  gay  horse, 
meaning  one  full  of  mettle. 

75.  iverede,  preterite  of  ivear.  A.S.,  iverian  pr.  iverede.  In 
this  case  the  general  tendency  of  the  language  towards  the  sub- 
stitution of  the  weak  for  the  strong  conjugation  has  been  over- 


Io8  NOTES    TO    THE   PROLOGUE. 

come  by  the  more  powerful  influence  of  analogy;  so  that  this 
verb,  which  in  A.S.  was  conjugated  according  to  the  weak  form, 
has  in  modern  English  taken  a  strong  preterite. 

7b.  Tvith^^hy;  cf.  Ger.  mi't.  Wttk  and  ^j/ are  closely  allied  in 
many  of  their  uses,  the  original  signification  of  either  denoting 
proximity. 

"  He  is  attended  xvit/i  a  desperate  train." 

Shak.  Lear,  ii.  4. 
/i^berffeou7i,  a  diminutive  of  hauberk  (A.S.  halsbeorg-=r\ec\i- 
guar<i),  but  often  used  as  synonymous  with  it;  a  piece  of  defen- 
sive armor,  descending  from  the  neck  to  the  middle  :  according 
to  some,  "  armor  protecting  the  head  and  shoulders."  The  fol- 
lowing *^xtract  from  the  Rime  of  Sir  Thopas,  §  24,  25,  describes 
the  arr'or  of  a  knight :  — 

"  He  didde  next  his  white  lere  \^ski)i'\ 
Of  cloth  of  lake  \_imcfi']  fine  and  clere 

A  breche  and  eke  a  sherte ; 
And  next  his  shert  an  haketoii  {^cassock^ 
And  over  that  an  habergeon 

For  percing  of  his  herte  ; 
And  over  that  a  fine  /lauberk, 
Was  all  ywrought  of  Jewes  werk, 

Ful  strong  it  was  of  plate ; 
And  over  that  his  cote-armoure, 
As  white  as  is  the  lily  floure. 

In  which  he  wold  debate  \_Jifffif'\." 

77.  ycome,  p.p.  come.  The  prefix  /  or  y  denotes  the  past  parti- 
ciple of  verbs.  It  is  still  used  as  an  archaism  \n  yclept.  In  A.S. 
it  was  also  prefixed  to  the  preterite  tense. 

viage^  a  journey  either  by  sea  or  land.  The  journey  to  Can- 
terbury is  called  a  viage  in  1.  792. 

78.  pilgrimage,  which  he  had  vowed  in  case  of  his  safe  return. 
It  was  usual  to  perform  such  votive  pilgrimages  in  the  dress 
worn  on  the  journey. 

80.  lovyere.  This  is  still  the  vulgar  pronunciation,  but  which 
is  only  an  archaism;  formed  from  A.S.  liifian,  pronounced  loof- 
yan. 

Lusty,  vigorous,  handsome ;  without  the  opprobrious  force 
the  word  has  since  acquired. 

bacheler.  "  A  soldier  not  old  or  rich  enough  to  lead  his  re- 
lations into  battle  with  a  banner.     The  original  sense  of  the  word 


NOTES    TO    THE   TROLOOUE.  109 

is  litile,  small,  young,  from  Welsh  i!)(7c^."  Webster.  "The  func- 
tions of  a  kniglit  were  coniplete  when  he  rode  at  the  head  of  his 
retainers  assembled  under  his  banner,  which  was  expressed  by 
the  term  '  lever  banniere.'  So  long  as  he  was  unable  to  take 
this  step,  either  from  insulFicient  age  or  poverty,  he  would  be 
considered  only  as  an  apprentice  in  chivalry,  and  was  called  a 
knight  bachelor.''''    Wedgwood,  2d  ed. 

Si.  ff5=as  if.  The  verb  -ivere  leyde  being  in  the  subjunctive, 
rendered  the  conjunction  unnecessary,  so  long  as  the  conditional 
I  mode  was  indicated  by  inflection.  Having  lost  the  power  of 
indicating  contingency  by  the  form  of  the  verb,  we  now  use  the 
conjunctions  if,  though^  &c.  The  construction  without  if  is  fre- 
quent in  Shakspeare.     See  Craik's  E.  of  S.,  p.  279. 

82.  of  twe7ity  yccr,  A.S.  gen.  of  time  how  long,  "  And  whanne 
Jhesus  was  maad  of  twelve  yeeres."  Luke  ii.42;  Wiclif.  The 
A.S.  more  generally  expressed  this  idea  by  xviiitrc. 

yeer,  pi.  In  E.E.  neuters  took  no  inflection  in  the  plural ; 
thus  hors,  deer,  Slc.  ^'■Harvest  is  the  primitive  signification  of 
our  English  word  year,  and  its  representative  in  the  cognate 
languages.  I  am  aware  that  this  is  not  the  received  etymology 
o{ year,  nor  do  I  propose  it  with  by  anv  means  entire  confidence. 
.  .  .  In  Anglo-Saxon  crtr  signifies  an  ear  of  grain  ;  and  by  sup- 
plying the  collective  prefix  ge,  common  to  all  the  Teutonic  lan- 
guages, we  have^crt;-,  an  appropriate  expression  {ox  harvest,  and 
at  the  same  time  a  term  which,  as  well  as  winter,  was  employed 
as  the  name  of  the  entire  year.  The  corresponding  words,  in 
the  cognate  languages,  admit  of  a  similar  derivation;  and  this, 
to  me,  seems  a  more  probable  etymology  than  those  by  which 
these  words  are  connected  with  remoter  roots."  Marsh,  Lect. 
on  E.  L.,  p.  245,  note. 

^e55e=: should  think;  subj.  The  idea  of  uncertainty  does  not 
attach  to  this  word  in  E.E. 

83.  evene  lengthe  =  ^YO\)ev  height;  i.e.,  neither  too  tall  nor  too 
short,  —  the  usual  height. 

84.  gret^ grc.^t;  definite  form  ^;t/c. 

Of  strengthe=^s.fi  regards  strength.  This  use  of  t?/"  is  com- 
mon in  Shakspeare.  "A  valiant  man  of  his  hands."  Abbott's 
Sh.  Gr.,  §  113.  Cf.  "  Swift  of  foot."  "  A  zeal  of  God."  Rom 
X.  2.  It  is  the  A.S.  adjunct  genitive  denoting  the  part  or  relation 
in  which  the  quality  is  conceived.     See  March,  A.S.  Gr.,  §  321. 

85.  chevachie,  military  service.     "  It  most  properly  means  an 


no  NOTES    TO   THE  PROLOGUE. 

expedition  with  a  small  party  of  cavalry,  but  is  often  used  gen- 
erally for  any  militai-y  expedition.  Hollinshed  calls  it  a  rode 
[i.e.,  a  raid].    T. 

87.  And  born  him  -I'c/^  behaved  bravely. 

as  —  so.  As  is  a  contraction  of  also  (A.S.  eal-swa),  the  all 
merely  emphasizing  the  so.  .^45^ in  that  way;  to  that  degree 
that.  Read:  "And  had  borne  himself  bravely  —  all  in  so  little 
time  —  in  hope  to  stand  in  his  lady's  favor."  Tyrwhitt  reads 
"as  of  so,"  which  would  mean  "  for  one  of  his  years,"  an  easier 
reading,  though  the  other  gives  the  same  general  meaning. 

88.  lady grace^\3.dy's  grs.ce.  Lady  is  for  Artrfrc,  gen.  sing. 
(not  pi.  as  Morris's  ed.  reads).  In  E.E.  the  genitive  of  some 
feminine  nouns  ended  in  e ;  other  nouns  ending  in  c  were  some- 
times inflected  in  a  similar  manner.  "That  biteth  the  horse 
heels."  Gen.  xlix.  17,  where,  however,  horse  may  be  gen.  pi. 
A.S.  horsa. 

89.  .£;«^;-o/rt'e^=  embroidered,  —  zV,  i.e.,  his  clothing. 

90.  al.,  adv.  used  intensively. 

fresshe.  "  The  English  brisk,  frisky,  and  fresh,  all  come  from 
the  same  source.  .  .  .  Fresh  has  passed  through  a  Latin  chan- 
nel, as  may  be  seen  from  the  change  of  its  vowel,  and,  to  a  cer- 
tain extent,  in  its  taking  the  suffix  jnent  in  refreshment,  which  is 
generally,  though  not  entirely,  restricted  to  Latin  words.  Under 
a  thoroughly  foreign  form  it  exists  in  English  a.?, fresco,  so  called 
because  the  paint  was  applied  to  the  walls  whilst  the  plaster  was 
still  fresh  or  damp."     M.  Mtiller. 

91.  yfc>v/v«^e=  playing  on  the  flute. 

"And  many  a  floyte  and  litling  home."     H.  of  F.,  iii.  133. 
al  the  day,  ace.  of  time. 

92.  moneth=^  month.  "  il/oo;/ is  a  very  old  word.  It  was  ;«(;;/« 
n  A.S.  For  month,  we  have  in  A.S.  monath,  in  Gothic  mcnoth. 
In  Sanskrit  we  find  jnas  for  moon,  and  masa  for  month.  Now 
this  mas  in  Sanskrit  is  clearly  derived  from  a  root  ma,  to  meas- 
ure, to  mete.  The  moon,  therefore,  is  the  measurer,  and  month 
is  the  portion  of  time  measured  by  it."  See  Sci.  of  Lang.,  Miil- 
ler,  ist  Series,  p.  16. 

93.  tvyde^large.  We  read  in  the  poem  on  the  Deposition  of 
Richard  II.  of"  Sieves  that  slode  uppon  the  erthe."    p.  22. 

94.  sitte  and  ryde,  infinitives  fov  sit  ten  and  riden  depending  on 
covjde. 

0)1  hors  =  on  horseback.     The  loss  of  inflection  has  rendered 


NOTES    TO   THE  PROLOGUE.  Hi 

necessary  a  large  increase  of  definitive  words.  We  would  be 
obliged  to  use  the  article  here. 

Ja  I  re  =^  fairly,  well.  Any  adjective  in  A.S.  could  be  used  in 
the  dative  as  an  adverb;  having  lost  the  inflection,  we  restrict 
the  adverb  to  the  form  in  Ij,  A.S.  lice. 

95.  make,  cndite,  juste,  dau7ice,  furtraye,  and  write,  are  infini- 
tives depending  upon  cotvde. 

96.  puriraye^^  draw,  sketch.  We  restrict  the  noun  portrait 
to  a  painting  of  a  face  or  person. 

■write.  To  be  able  to  write  was  a  rare  accomplishment;  cf 
clergy  =  clericus  =  clerk. 

97.  »/]^^A';-/a/e  ^  night-time.  "A.S.  nihtern-dael.  Ljd- 
gate  uses  nig/iteriynie."  T.  Morris  explains  as  night  tale  =  the 
reckoning  or  time  of  night. 

98.  sleep  =^  sle^t.  The  addition  of  t  changes  this  verb  to 
the  weak  conjugation.     It  was  a  useless  addition. 

nyg/ityngale ^  mghtingalQ.  A.S.  nihte,  by  night;  gale,  a 
singer,  from  galan,  to  sing;  cf.  Lat.  gallus. 

99.  Curteys.     See  note,  1.  46. 
servysable.  willing  to  render  service. 

100.  crtr/'=  carved,  — pr.  of  kerveti,  to  carve. 

loi.  Teman.  "Yeman,  or  yeoman,  is  an  abbreviation  of 
yeofigcmati,  as  youthe  is  o{ yeongthe.  Young  men  being  most 
usually  employed  in  service,  servants  have,  in  many  languages, 
been  denominated  from  the  single  circumstance  of  age.  Tlie 
title  of  yeoman  was  given,  in  a  secondary  sense,  to  people  of 
middling  rank,  not  in  service.  The  appropriation  of  the  word 
to  signify  a  small  landholder  is  more  modern,  I  apprehend."  T. 
More  probably,  a  countryman.     Frisic,  gaetnati,  a  villager. 

he,  i.e.,  the  knight. 

servantes,  dissyllable,  accented  on  ultimate. 

no  moo  ^  wo  more.  An  abbreviated  comparative  of  many. 
Mo,  moe,  are  common  in  Shakspeare. 

102.  him  l7iste=\t  pleased  him.  Him  maybe  construed  as 
dative  after  the  impersonal  construction,  or,  perhaps  better,  as 
in  A.S. ,  as  ace.  after  impersonal  of  feeling.  "  Impersonals  of 
appetite  or  passion,  in  A.S.,  govern  an  accusative  of  the  person 
suffering."  March,  §  290.  So  hunger,  thirst,  list,  long,  loath, 
irk,  rue,  dream,  tickle,  smart,  game. 

Ryde,  inf.  subject  of  luste. 

103.  /iood=hat,  Ger.  //«/.      Hood  now  denotes    a   covering 


112  NOTES    TO    THE   PROLOGUE. 

for  the  head  worn   by  women.     It  literally  means  a  protection, 
or  covering. 

Gre»e  was  the  favorite  color  of  hunters.  "Immediately  he 
clothed  the  chiefest  of  his  men  in  Lincoln  green,  with  black 
hats,  and  white  feathers,  all  alike."  Robin  Hood  in  Thom's 
E.  E.  Prose  Rom.,  p.  iii. 

104.  pocok  (irtues,  arrows  feathered  with  peacock  feathers. 
Ascham  in  his  Toxophilus  (p.  129,  Arber"s  ed.)  says:  "And 
trewelye  at  a  short  but,  which  some  man  doth  use,  ye  Pecock 
fether  doth  seldome  kepe  vp  ye  shaft  cyther  ryght  or  leuel,"  to 
which  bad  reputation  Chaucer  evidently  alludes  in  1.  107. 

rtrtfcs^  arrows.  A.S.  aretve,  arivc,  from  ar  (ore),  copper, 
and  therefore  equivalent  in  meaning  to  "  the  weapon,''  —  as  we 
say  "  the  steel  "  for  "  the  sword."  Copper,  being  found  pure  and 
easily  worked,  was  the  earliest  metal  made  use  of  by  man,  and 
in  most  languages  has  given  the  generic  name  for  metal.  Thus 
Hesiod  says  (Op.  149):  "The  ancients  had  copper  implements 
(weapons)  and  copper  houses,  and  they  wrought  (dealt)  in 
copper,  for  they  did  not  have  the  black  iron."  Thus  the  Greek 
term  for  copper,  ;^o/l«6c,  was  used  by  Homer  for  the  general  term 
weapon  and  also  metal.  So  A.S.  ar,  O.N.  or,  Eng.  ore,  Ger.. 
crz,  Lat.  (es  {aer-s),  all  point  to  one  and  the  same  metal,  —  cop- 
per; and  as  the  Greeks  called  the  sword  xc-'^'^^oc,,  and  the  Latins 
designated  weapons  hy  aera  ("Ardentis  clipeos  atque  acra  mi- 
cantia  cerno,"  Virgil,  Aen.  ii.  734),  so  our  ancestors  .used  the 
same  word  to  designate  their  chief  weapon.  Wedgwood,  how- 
ever, refers  the  name  "  to  their  ivkirring  through  the  air." 

brightc.     Formerly  applied  to  sounds  as  well  as  to  objects. 

"  Heosong  so  schille  and  so  brihte."  O.  and  N.  1654. 
"The  phenomena  from  whence  all  representative  words  are  im- 
mediately taken  must,  of  course,  belong  to  the  class  which 
addresses  itself  to  the  ear;  and  we  find  accordingly  that  the 
words  expressing  attributes  of  light  are  commonly  derived  from 
those  of  sound."     Wedgwood. 

105.  thriftily,  carefully,  with  the  air  of  a  man  who  under- 
stood his  business. 

106.  yomanly,  in  a  manner  becoming  a  yeoman. 

107.  rvith  fetheres,  because  of  the  bad  adjustment  of  the 
feathers.  This  use  of  w//"^  is  common  in  Skakspeare.  "With 
(which  like  by  signifies  juxtaposition)  is  often  used  to  express 
the  juxtaposition  of  cause  and  effect."     Shak.  Gr.,  §  193. 


NOTES    TO    THE   I'liOLOUUE.  II3 

loruc,  adv.  modifying  drowpede. 

109.  Not-heed,  a  head  with  close-cut  hair.  Tjrwhitt'is  Glos- 
sary explains  as  "  a  head  like  a  nut." 

111.  bracer,  armor  for  the  arm  to  protect  it  from  the  recoil 
of  the  bow-string.  "A  bracer  serueth  for  two  causes,  one  to 
saue  his  arme  from  the  strjpe  of  the  strynge,  and  his  doublet 
from  vvearynge,  and  the  other  is,  that  the  strynge  glydjnge 
sharpelye  and  quicklje  of  the  bracer,  maj  make  the  sharper 
shoote."     Toxophilus,  Arber's  ed.,  loS. 

112.  bokeler,  a  dissyllable. 

113.  t/iat  ot/ier=^i\\it  other.  The  neuter  of  the  A.S.  demon- 
strative, which  we  have  taken  as  the  definite  article,  was  t/iaet, 
and  in  E.E.  was  often  used  where  we  would  now  use  the  posses- 
sive pronoun.     The  same  usage  prevails  in  Greek. 

daggere.  "  The  syllable  fi?«^  or  rf/[^  represents  the  noise  of 
a  blow  with  something  sharp;  then  the  instrument  with  which 
the  blow  is  given,  or  any  thing  of  similar  form."     Wedgwood. 

114.  //rtr«cy5c</,  equipped ;  fitted  with  hangings. 

115.  Crisiofre,  an  image  of  St.  Christopher,  patron  saint  of 
the  weather  and  forests,  and  especially  reverenced  bj  the  lower 
orders  of  society;  it  was  worn  as  a  brooch,  and  was  considered 
as  having  power  to  shield  the  wearer  from  hidden  danger. 

117.  forster,  a  forester;  one  who  had  charge  of  a  forest. 

119.  symple.  Elide  final  e  before  a  vowel.  The  original 
meaning  of  simple  lacked  the  idea  of  stupidity  which  we  gen- 
erally attach  to  it.  Simple  has  come  to  us  through  the  French ; 
while  complex,  from  the  same  root,  has  come  from  the  Latin  direct. 

120.  gretteste.     Final  e  denotes  definite  declension. 

Ne  —  but=^on\y.  Still  used  in  England  in  the  form  «o/;«/. 
Wright's  Die.  The  second  negative  is  here  supplied  by  but, 
which  has  a  negative  force.  "  The  thief  cometh  not  but  for  to 
steal."  Gr.  d  nfj.  Jno.  x.  10.  Cf.  also,  "  There  were  but  ten  " 
=  there'^ere  no  more  than  (only)  ten.  See  Abbott's  Shak.  Gr., 
§§  1 18-130. 

Z,cij=:Eloy,  i.e.,  St.  Eligius.  Tyrwhitt  reads:  "  nasbut  by 
St.  Eloy." 

122.  sa7ig  the  servise  =  \wX.ox\QA  the  service.  "And  bi  the 
weie  ase  heo  geth,  go  singinde  hire  beoden  "  (beads,  prayers). 
An.  R.,  424. 

Servise,  prayers,  —  not  mass,  which  could  be  celebrated  only 
by  a  priest. 

8 


114  NOTES    TO    THE   PROLOGUE. 

123.  Entuned  iti  her  nose.  The  notion  that  there  is  a  peculiar 
solemnity  in  a  nasal  tone  is  not  yet  extinct. 

scincly,  becomingly  :  trissyllable. 

124.  From  the  time  of  William  the  Conqueror,  who  filled  all 
offices  in  Church  and  State  with  Normans,  and  thus  made 
French  the  aristocratic  language,  until  nearly,  if  not  quite,  to 
the  time  of  Chaucer,  familiarity  with  the  French  language  was 
esteemed  a  mark  of  high  breeding  and  education.  Gower,  a 
contemporary  of  Chaucer,  wrote  one  of  his  long  poems  in 
French,  one  in  Latin,  and  one  in  English.  The  confusion  of 
the  speech  of  the  different  classes  of  people  between  these  three 
tongues  —  Latin  being  spoken  by  ecclesiastics,  French  by  the 
nobility,  and  English  by  the  common  people  —  is  admirably 
shown  by  the  specimens  given  in  the  "  Political  Songs  of  Eng- 
land," edited  by  Thos.  Wright  for  the  Camden  Society,  1839. 

"  En  seynt  eglise  sunt  multi  saepe  priores ; 
Summe  beoth  wyse,  multi  sunt  inferiores."     p.  251. 
Robert  of  Gloucester  (i.  364)  gives  the  following  account  of  the 
introduction  of  French  :  — 

"  Thus  come  lo  !  Engelond  into  Normannes  honde, 
And  the  Normans  ne  couthe  speke  tho  bote  her  owe  speche, 
And  speke  French  as  dude  at  om  and  here  chyldren  dude  also 

teche 
So  that  hey  men  of  thys  lond,  that  of  her  blod  come, 
Holdeth  alle  thulke  speche  that  hii  of  hem  nome. 
For  bote  a  man  couthe  French,  me  tolth  of  hym  wel  lute; 
Ac  lowe  men  holdeth  to   Englyss   and  to   her  kunde  speche 
yute." 
That  is:  Thus  came  England  into  the  Normans'  hands;  and  the 
Normans  could  not  then  speak  any  but  their  own  language;  and 
they  spoke  French  as  they  did  at  home,  and  so  taught  their  chil- 
dren;  so  that  the  nobility  of  this  land  that  descended  from  them 
all  (hold  to)  continue  to  use  that  language  that  they  received  of 
them.     For,  except   a   man   understood   French,   one   made  but 
little  of  him;  but  the  common  people  continue  to  use   English 
and  their  native  speech  yet. 

Prof.  Earle,  in  his  "  Philology  of  the  English  Tongue,"  says  : 
"  During  this  long  interval  (from  the  12th  to  the  14th  cen- 
tury) the  reigning  language  was  French;  and  this  fashion,  like 
all  fashions,  went  on  spreading  and  embracing  a  wider  area, 
and  ever  growing  thinner  as  it  spread,  till  in  the  thirteenth  and 


NOTES    TO    THE    I'JtOLOOUK.  1 15 

foiirteentli  centuries  it  was  become  an   acknowledged   subject  of 
derision."     p.  65. 

125.  sco/e  of  Stratford,  after  tiie  style  spoken  in  tbe  rural 
districts  of  England,  rather  than  that  spoken  in  Paris. 

126.  Frensck  of  Parts.  Of  the  various  dialects  spoken  in 
France,  that  spoken  at  the  capital  early  became  the  standard. 
For  a  most  interesting  account  of  this  subject,  see  Brachct's 
Historical  French  Grammar.  "  Chaucer  thought  but  meanly 
of  the  English  French  spoken  in  his  time.  It  was  proper,  how- 
ever, that  the  Prioress  should  speak  some  sort  of  French,  not 
only  as  a  woman  of  fashion  (a  character  which  she  is  repre- 
sented to  affect),  but  as  a  religious  person."     T. 

iinkiiowc,  p. J).  =  unknown.  The  temlency  to  drop  final  ?i, 
which  has  prevailed  in  the  case  of  the  infinitive,  is  here  ex- 
hibited in  the  case  of  the  participle,  where  it  has  in  inost  cases 
successfully  resisted. 

127.  at  mete  =  at  the  table. 

■ivithalle,  besides,  with  all  her  other  accomplishments. 

128.  Fallc,  inf.,  to  be  construed  with/ee/(pr.  of  let). 

129.  Ne  xvctte  kyre  fyngres.  The  use  of  knives  and  forks  at 
table  is  one  of  the  refinements  of  modern  civilization  ;  cf.  '•  lie 
that  dippeth  his  hand  with  me  in  the  dish."     Matt.  xxvi.  23. 

130.  keepe,  sc.  cowde  sche  ^  she  knew  lunv  to  take  care.  A.S. 
cepau=\.o  take,  to  attempt,  to  regard,  heed,  keep. 

To /rtX-c /'tT/ =  to  take  care.  "lie  that  keepcth  [i.e.,  careth 
for]  Israel  shall  not  slumber  nor  sleep."  Ps.  cxxi.  4.  See  K., 
1380. 

152.  /(js/e  =  pleasure,  that  to  which  she  gave  attention.  The 
verb  as  well  as  the  noun  lust  in  E.E.  simply  denoted  pleasure, 
and  was  not  restricted  to  base  passion  as  at  present.  With  the 
second  meaning  given  above,  cf.  listless. 

XT,^.  fcrthitig,  literally,  a  fourth  part;  hence  any  small  por- 
tion. For  the  same  tendency  to  restrict  a  definite  part  to  mean- 
ing a  small  part,  cf.  //V/^e  ^  tenth,  ?«<?/('/')/=:  one-half. 

135.  droiikcn,  pp.  drunk.  A.S.  drincaji,  p.  dranc,  p.p.  dritn- 
cen.  The  pret.  and  p.p.  of  this  class  of  verbs  should  be  carefully 
distinguished. 

136.  Ful  scm-e-ly,  very  prettily,  becomingly. 

^az^^'^/c  =  reached,  pret.  of  rcchc.  This  old  pret.  is  obso- 
lete, and  a  new  one  has  been  formed  after  the  analogy  of  weak 
verbs. 


Il6  SOTES    TO    THE   MiOLOGUE. 

137.  of  grct  disport,  attributive  genitive;  cf.  "He  is  a  man 
of  means."     She  was  very  fond  of  gajetj. 

139.  pcynede  hire  =  took  pains.  The  reflexive  use  of  this  verb 
is  obsolete. 

to  countrefete  c/ieere  =  to  imitate  the  manner.  The  idea  of 
imitation  for  a  fraudulent  purpose,  which  now  attaches  to  coun- 
terfeit, is  wanting  in  E.E.,  where  counterfeit  not  unfrequentlv 
denotes  a  portrait. 

140.  estatlic/i,  like  one  possessed  of  an  estate ;  hence  stately, 
high-bred. 

court.  "  CoJiors  or  Cors  was  first  used  in  the  sense  of  a  hur- 
dle, an  enclosure,  a  cattle  j-ard.  The  co/iortes,  or  divisions  of 
the  Roman  army,  were  called  by  the  same  name;  so  man}' 
soldiers  constituting  a  pen  or  a  court.  Thus  cors,  cortis,  from 
meaning  a  pen,  a  cattle-yard,  became  in  mediaeval  Latin 
Curtis,  and  was  used,  like  the  German  Hof,  of  the  farms  and 
castles  built  by  Roman  settlers  in  the  provinces  of  the  Em- 
pire. Lastly,  from  meaning  a  fortified  place,  curtis  rose  to  the 
dignity  of  a  royal  residence,  and  became  synonymous  with 
palace."     Max  Miiller,  Sci.  Lang.,  269. 

141.  to  ben  /toldcn  =  to  be  considered. 

142.  but ^^atWl  further,  indicating  simply  a  change  in  the 
point  of  \'iew.  But  is  in  A.S.  butaii  for  bi-ntan,  that  is  by- 
out=  \\\i\\oi\t=  ticar- but-out.  It  gradually  loses  its  adversative 
force,  and  becomes  a  simple  conjunction. 

for  to  speken,  the  gerund  or  verbal  noun.  We  would  now 
say  spcakifig,  &c.,  using  the  independent  participial  construction. 
144.  If  that=^\{  so  be  that;  if  it  happened  that.  Accord- 
ing to  this  explanation,  that  is  the  sentence  article,  belonging 
to  the  sentence  she  saxv,  &c.,  which  is  the  subject  of  the  sup- 
plied verb.  This  explanation  will  also  apply  to  the  other  cases 
where  that  follows  a  conjunction. 

146.  of  smale  houndes,  a  partitive  genitive;  cf.  A.S.  "  Ic 
haebbe  his  her"^I  have  some  (of  it)  here.  Perhaps,  however, 
this  is  an  imitation  of  the  French  idiom.  The  A.S.  generally 
uses  the  genitive,  sometimes  the  preposition  of. 

147.  w«5^<?/ ^rce^=  fine  white  bread.  Dogs  were  usually  fed 
on  coarse  lentil  bread  baked  for  that  purpose. 

148.  .ff«^  =  and;  it  is  equivalent  to  an  emphatic  conjunction, 
its  adversative  force  calling  especial  attention  to  the  new  partic- 
ular. 


NOTES    TO    THE   I'UOLOGUE.  II7 

Scan  :    But  so  |  re  wepte  |  sch'  if  oon  |  of  hem  |  were  deed. 

149.  men,  the  indefinite  pronoun  (owe),  now  unfortunately 
obsolete.  It  is  also  written  me.,  which  must  be  carefully  dis- 
tinguished from  the  dat.  and  ace.  of/. 

.s-wo/*,  pret.  singular;  the  plural  would  he  smiic.  So  in  A.S. 
he  smot,  we  smiion. 

yerde^vi.  stick,  a  rod.  A.S.  gyrd,  geard.  This  word  means  ; 
(i)  an  enclosed  place  (Goth,  garda,  a  gard  or  fold,  gards,  a 
house),  a  garden;  (2)  the  means  by  which  such  enclosure  is 
effected,  i.e.,  palings  or  sticks;  (3)  finally,  the  word  comes  to 
denote  a  lineal  measure  determined  by  the  usual  length  of  such 
palings.  So,  also,  rod  has  passed  to  denote  a  measure  of  dis- 
tance;   and  rood,  a  measure  of  area. 

152.  /re/)'5=  slender,  well-proportioned. 

"  Her  face  gentil  and  tretise."     Rom.  R.,  1016. 

£ye>t  =  eyeii.  A  remnant  of  the  u  declension  of  nouns ;  cf. 
oxen,  chicken,  kine. 

2/5.    a  ^paiinc  broad,  ace.  of  measure- 

//-OTve^  think,  should  think. 

156.  hardily,  assuredly,  certainly.  Hard  originally  denotes 
strength  (cf.  hardy),  thence  reliability. 

157.  I xvas  rvaar,  I  was  aware,  I  observed. 

159  feire=^2i  set;  used  to  denote  anything,  the  parts  of 
which,  or  the  natural  divisions  of  which,  are  equal  to  each 
other. 

^ef^f.s-  =  beads,  a  rosary.  Bead  is  derived  from  the  A.S.  bid- 
dan,  Ger.  betcn,  to  pray;  it  means:  (i)  a  prayer;  (2)  a  string 
of  balls  upon  which  the  tale  or  tally  of  prayers  was  kept:  hence 
the  phrase  "  to  tell  one's  beads  "=  to  say  one's  prayers. 

gauded  al  xvith  grc7te,  with  green  gaudes.  The  gaudees  were 
large  beads  upon  the  rosary  indicating  a  Pater  Nosier. 

160.  broch^'-'-  brooch,  signified:  (i)  a  pin;  (2)  a  breastpin: 
(3)  a  buckle  or  clasp  ;  (4)  a  jewel  or  ornament.  It  was  an  orna- 
ment common  to  both  sexes.  The  '  crowned  A.'  is  supposed  to 
represent  Amor  or  Charity,  the  greatest  of  all  the  Christian 
graces."    M. 

162.  Amor  vi7icit  omnia,  Love  (charity)  conquers  (surpasses) 
all  things. 

163.  Another  Nonne.  Tyrwhitt  says:  "No  nun  could  be  a 
chaplain."  Probably  a  nun  who  assisted  her  in  her  duties  as 
prioress,  and  called  a  chaplain  from  the  analogy. 


Il8  NOTES    TO    THE   PROLOGUE. 

164.  chapellyn.  This  word  maj  be  used  here  as  equivalent  to 
assistant.  Tyrwhitt,  however,  rejects  these  two  lines  as  interpo- 
lations, because  of  the  difficulty  mentioned  above.  According 
to  Spelman,  the  word  chapel  has  passed  through  the  following 
significations  :  (i)  a  chest  or  coffer,  in  which  the  relics  of  martyrs 
were  preserved  ;  (2)  a  building  in  which  these  capellae  of  relics 
were  kept;  (3)  a  place  of  praj-er,  because  of  the  peculiar  sanctity 
of  such  places.  Accordingly  the  word  chaplain  would  pass 
through  corresponding  changes,  and  would  mean  :  (i)  a  keeper 
of  such  a  coffer  of  relics;  (2)  one  whose  duty  it  was  to  superin- 
tend the  building  in  which  the  coffer  was  kept,  or  that  part  of 
the  building  in  which  the  shrine  was  erected;  (3)  one  whose 
duty  it  was  to  read  prayers.  Inferior  clergy  can  read  prayers, 
while  no  one  but  a  consecrated  priest  can  celebrate  mass.  Hence 
the  idea  of  inferiority  would  naturally  attach  to  the  word  chap- 
lain, and  the  word  might  come  in  time  to  denote  a  servant  in  a 
religious  house.  The  same  idea  of  inferiority  attaches  to  a  chapel 
as  compared  with  a  church.  Webster's  Dictionary  gives  another 
derivation  of  chapel:  "Originally  a  short  cloak,  hood,  or  cowl, 
a  sacred  vessel,  chapel.  It  is  said  that  the  king  of  France  in 
war  carried  St.  Martyn's  hat  into  the  field,  which  was  kept  in  a 
tent  as  a  precious  relic,  whence  the  place  took  the  name  capella, 
a  little  hat,  and  the  priest  who  had  the  custody  of  the  tent  was 
called  capellaniis,  now  chaplaini"  Wedgwood  says,  and  we  think 
with  good  reason,  alluding  to  the  foregoing  derivation:  "But 
we  have  no  occasion  to  resort  to  so  hypothetical  a  derivation. 
The  canopy  or  covering  of  an  altar  where  mass  was  celebrated 
was  called  capella-,  a  hood.  .  .  .  And  it  can  hardly  be  doubted 
that  the  name  of  the  canopy  was  extended  to  the  recess  in  a 
church  in  which  an  altar  was  placed,  forming  the  capella  or 
chapel  of  the  saint  to  whom  the  altar  was  dedicated." 

165.  a  fair  for  the  maistrie^x\.  fair  one  for  the  position  of 
master.  "  The  phraseybr  the  maistre  is  equivalent  to  the  French 
four  la  maistrte,  which  in  old  books  of  physic  was  applied  to 
such  medicines  as  we  usually  call  sovereign  [specific]  or  excel- 
lent above  all  others.  In  the  same  sense  the  monk  is  said  to  be 
fair  for  the  tnaistrie  —  above  all  others."     T. 

166.  A71  Oiit-rydere  ^one  who  rides  after  the  hounds  in  hunt- 
ing. Out  in  composition  often  denotes  to  a  great  degree,  intensi- 
fying the  word  to  which  it  is  joined  ;  cf.  o«/-a«(/-c?«^=  thoroughly ; 
utter,  &c. 


NOTES    TO    THE   PROLOOUE.  II9 

z'c«crve  =  hunting;  a  practice  of  the  monks  which  occasioned 
great  scandal. 

"And  these  abbotes  and  priours  don  agein  here  rihtes ; 
Hii  riden  wid  hauk  and  hound,  and  contrefeten  knihtes." 

Pol.  Songs,  329. 

167.  io  ben,  inf.,  construed  with  able. 

to  ben  an  abbot  able.  His  qualifications  for  this  holy  office 
afford  a  fine  opportunity  for  Chaucer's  satire  In  a  similar  strain 
of  satire  we  speak  of  corpulent  men  as  "fit  for  aldermen." 

16S.  Ful  ma., J  a.  Many  must  be  construed  as  an  adverb 
modifying  a,  which  is  here  equivalent  to  the  numeral  07ie.  In 
semi-Saxon  (Layamon)  we  find  the  two  words  joined;  nom. 
monienne,  gen.  mo7iiejines.  In  illustration  of  this  use  of  «,  cf. 
"  With  him  ther  wente  knyghtes  many  oon."  K.,  1260.  "  Of  fees 
and  robes  hadde  he  many  oon."  P.,  317.  "  In  the  same  way  the 
Germans  say  mancher  (adj.)  Mann,  but  soldi  (adv.)  ein  Matin. 
In  A.S.  the  idiom  was  '  many  man,'  not  '  many  a  man.'  "  Abbott, 
Shak.  Gr.,  §  85.  At  present  the  use  of  the  article  is  simply  to 
allow  the  word  matiy  to  stand  with  a  singular  noun  ;  in  such 
cases  many  a  =  many  times  a,  causing  the  word  to  be  taken  dis- 
tributively;  while  many  used  with  the  plural  would  denote  the 
collective  use  of  the  noun  to  which  it  belonged.  The  distribu- 
tive use  is  more  intensive,  as  it  fixes  the  attention  upon  the 
unit.  The  force  of  the  expression  has  caused  it  to  be  retained, 
although  its  true  syntax  is  no  longer  obvious. 

stable,  article  omitted. 

169.  bridel  heere  gynglen.  The  verb  keere  governs  bride! 
gynglen  as  its  object.  The  infinitive  when  construed  as  a  noun 
retains  its  verbal  force.  Bridel  is  the  ace.  subject  of  gynglen. 
"After  verbs  of  perceiving  .  .  .  and  some  others,  the  logical 
object  is  the  infinitive  clause."  March,  §  293.  "Anciently  nc 
person  seems  to  have  been  gallantly  equipped  on  horseback, 
unless  the  horse's  bridle  or  some  other  part  of  the  furniture  was 
stuck  full  of  small  bells.  Wiclif,  in  his  Trialoge,  inveighs 
against  the  priests  for  "their  fair  hors  and  jolly  and  gay  sad- 
eles,  and  bridles  ringing  by  the  way."     Warton,  167. 

170.  Gynglen,  inf.  jingling.  Tyrwhitt  reads  gyngeling.  Pro- 
long the  first  foot=_§-j/-/«^-ling. 

171.  loude  and  cleere  are  adverbs. 
dot/i,  sc.  gynglen. 

172.  There  a.";  =  there    where  ^  where.     In   such  expressions 


I20  NOTES   TO   THE  PROLOGUE. 

as  was  probably  added  to  indicate  the  relative  force  of  what 
otherwise  might  be  taken  for  the  demonstrative  adverb;  cf. 
whereas  (Shak.)  =  where  that.  In  E.E.  tkere  and  t/ee?i  are  used 
in  cases  where  we  would  write  -where  and  when  ;  the  former 
being  in  E.E.  both  demonstrative  and  relative,  and  the  latter 
being  interrogative.  As  is  added  to  all  the  interrogative  adverbs 
to  render  them  relative,  and  may  have  also  been  added  to  those 
which  by  their  form  were  either  demonstrative  or  relative,  to 
determine  their  relative  character,  or  the  addition  may  have 
been  due  to  the  force  of  analogy. 

173.  Maure  —  ^e«e}'/n=  Maur  —  Benedict.  St.  Maur  was  a 
disciple  of  St.  Benedict  The  rule  (discipline)  of  these  saints 
was  the  oldest,  and  consequently  the  strictest  form  of  discipline 
in  the  Catholic  church. 

174.  Bycause  ^^a^  =  because,  for  the  reason  that;  cf.  "by  the 
cause."  K.,  1630.  In  compounds  where  ^/precedes,  it  is  changed 
to  be ;  as,  before,  behind,  beside ;  where  it  follows,  it  retains  its 
form;  as,  thereby,  hereby,  &c.  The  prefix  be,  in  English  verbs, 
stands  in  the  place  of  three  prefixes  originally  distinct:  (i)  be, 
the  intensive  prefix,  as  bereave  (Goth.,  biraubon)  ;  (2)  the  inten- 
sive or  collective  prefix  g-e,  as  believe,  Ger.  glauben  (Goth.,  ga- 
laubja?i);  (3)  the  preposition  i^j/,  as  hecom^  =  by-co}ne.  Be  in 
the  1st  and  3d  cases  was  undoubtedly  originally  the  same,  de- 
noting nearness,  hence  intensity. 

/>^fl/ refers  to  cmise  considered  as  a  noun;  cf.  "In  the  place 
that  the  tree  falleth  '^=  where  the  tree  falleth,  or,  as  it  would  be 
in  E.E.,  ivhere  that;  cf.  also  therefore  =  ior  this,  that. 

somdel=  somewhat.     We  still  say  "  a  good  deal." 

176.  trace.     Other  readings  are  space,  face. 
To  hold  the  trace  =^  to  follow  the  track. 

177.  of  that  text.  That  which  suggests  a  mental  state  is  in 
A.S.  put  in  the  genitive.  The  statement  of  the  act  in  this  case 
is  but  an  expressive  way  of  showing  his  utter  contempt  for  the 
strict  discipline  of  the  early  monks.  Of  is  here  equivalent  to 
concerning. 

a  pulled  hen.  "A  moulting  hen,  a  worthless  hen,  because 
neither  laying  eggs  nor  fit  for  food."  M.  "  The  French  foiilet, 
which  then  meant  a  young  child,  is  Anglicized  into  something 
which  looks  like  the  participle  of  the  verb  to  pull  in  the  Prol- 
ogue, 177."  Earle's  Philology.  Neither  of  these  explanations 
appears  to  me  satisfactory.     I  think  it  means  a  hen  reduced  to  a 


NOTES    TO    THE  PROLOGUE.  I2I 

mere  skeleton,  —  as  we  say,  "mere  skin  and  bones."  The  word 
is  variously  written  pulled,  peeled,  pilled,  polled,  and  is  probably 
allied  to  French  piller,  to  plunder,  and  hence  figuratively  =  poor. 
"Thou  must  not  pil  and  powle  the  tenant.''  Latimer,  vii.  Ser.  51, 
A.rber. 

"Thus  ye  derid  hem  unduly  with  droppis  of  anger, 
And  stonyed  him  with  stormes  that  stynted  nevere, 
But  plucked  ixnd  pulled  hem  anon  to  the  skynnes, 
That  the  ftVesing  ftVost  ilVeted  to  here  hertis." 

Dep.  Ric,  12. 

"A  nation    scattered   and   pcelled."     Is.   x\iii.  2.     Some  derive 

the  word  from  dcpilatus,  bald.     "And  if  it  is  a  foul  thing  to  a 

womman  to  be  pollid,  or  to  be  inciad  ballid."    Wiclif,  i  Cor.  xi.  6. 

"As  pyled  as  an  ape  was  his  skulle."     C.  T.,  3933. 

"With  skalled  browes  blake  and  piled  berd."    P.,  627. 

17S.  Tliat  sciih,  that.  First  that,  rel.  pron.  referring  to  text; 
second  that,  sentence  article,  modifying  the  sentence  which  is  the 
object  o{  seith. 

jiooii  =  not  at  all,  in  no  case:  an  emphatic  negative  =  no 
one.     It  must  be  explained  as  an  adverbial  accusati\e. 

179.  reccheles  =rcc\i.\e.?,?<  :  regardless  of  the  laws  of  his  order. 
Tyrwhitt  supposes  Chaucer  to  have  wrMten  rcjrhellcs  (A.S.  regol, 
rule)  =  without  rule,  but  the  other  explanation  suits  the  context 
better. 

iSo.   is  likened^  is  to  be  likened  to  :   is  like  to. 

7v«/er/<?5  =  out  of  water.  Words  in  less  are  now  used  only 
subjectively. 

iSi.  This  is  to  .<;(?i'«  =that  is  to  say.  Philosophicalh',  it  is 
more  correct  to  use  the  near  demonstrative  in  such  cases,  but 
our  present  idiom  is  fixed  otherwise. 

to  seyn,  predicate  with  is. 

a  motik,  &c.,  sc.  is  likened. 

182.  ivorth,  an  abbreviated  form  of  worthy,  which  in  A.S.  was 
followed  by  a  gen.  of  price.  We  have  retained  this  construction 
with  worthy ;  with  worth,  however,  we  use,  as  here,  the  ace.  of 
definition. 

1S3.   I scide  =  \  should  sa}'.     Subj.  pret. 

opi7iioun,  trissyllable. 

good.  The  usual  etymology  refers  this  word  to  the  same  root 
as  God,  with  the  original  meaning  of  moral  excellence.  It  is, 
however,  probable  that  the  resemblance  is  only  accidental,  and 


122  NOTES    TO    THE   TUOLUGUE. 

that  the  original  force  of  good  is  given  more  nearly  in  this  pas- 
sage, —  an  opinion  that  tvill  hold. 

1S4.  J^V/rt/ =  why,  wherefore,  Lat.  ^«/f/.  Common  in  Shak- 
speare. 

studie,  inf.  The  auxiliary  verbs  are  followed  by  the  infini- 
tive, although  they  have  degenerated  into  hardly  more  than 
modal  or  tense  signs. 

himselvett,  ace.  sing.  For  dative,  see  1.  52S.  As  we  inflect 
self  only  in  the  plural,  v  does  not  occur  in  the  sing. 

zuood,  crazy,  mad.  This  root  is  preserved  in  Wednesday 
(Wodensday),  so  named  from  the  A.S.  god  Wodoi,  —  the  Raging 
one,  —  an  appropriate  designation  for  the  god  of  war.  Scot.  %vud, 
mad,  distracted,  wild.  "  An'  just  as  wud  as  wud  can  be."  Burns. 
185.  2^o^ow;-e  =  to  pore,  to  be  construed  with  .';^«^/e.  "Why 
should  he  devote  himself  (study,  cf.  Lat.  stiidere)  to  poring  over 
books  in  a  cloyster,  and  make  himself  mad.'"' 

1S6.  s7vy}ike  =  \abo\',  inf.,  construe  with  zuhat  schulde,  1.  1S4. 
This  word  is  now  obsolete,  although  used  by  Milton. 

187.  Hotv  schal,  &c.  A  fine  bit  of  special  pleading,  or  sar- 
casm. This  whole  passage  is  punctuated  differently;  some  place 
an  exclamation  point  after  what,  and  only  commas  until  l>yt  P 
Morris  prints  a  full  stop  after  -poure.  With  the  first  pointing, 
wliich  seems  to  give  the  easiest  reading,  the  sense  would  be 
'■what!  should  he  study,  &c  ,  how  shall  the  world  be  served." 
With  this  pointing,  schulde  and  s-ajynke  will  be  subjunctives. 
With  the  pointing  given  in  our  text,  ''  How  schal,"  &c.,  is  rather 
an  assertion  under  cover  of  a  question  =  if  he  should  study,  &c., 
the  world  could  not  be  served. 

188.  "  Let  Austin  keep  his  labor  for  himself." 

1S9.  pricasour^  a  hard  rider.  Literally  "  a  spurrer,"  one 
who  rode  with  "  whip  and  spur." 

aright  =  on  riffht^^  ind&Qd.  We  now  use  do-{.'itright  with  a 
similar  force. 

190.  Scan  :  Grcyhoundes  |  he  hadde  |  as  swifte  |  as  fowel  |  in 
flight. 

foxvel,  pl.=birds.  Now  usually  restricted  to  domesticated 
birds. 

192.    Was  al  his  lnst^=  his  pleasure  was  wholly. 
for  no  cost,  &c.  ^  "  for  no   expense  would    he    abstain    from 
these  sports."     M.     Perhaps,  better,  "he  would  on  no  account 
refrain,  — for  no  reason.    .The  verb  cost  is  sometimes  used  figu- 


NOTES    TO    THE    PROLOGUE.  1 23 

rativelj  as  nearly  equivalent  to  cause;  e.g.,  "  Slavery  cost  the 
country  a  four  years'  war."  So  also  ncccies-cost^  for  the  reason 
of  need;  on  account  of  necessity. 

193.  purjilcd,  embroidered.  Purfil  (subst.)  signifies  the  em- 
broidered or  furred  trimming  of  a  dress  ;  hence  the  verb  comes 
to  have  tlie  general  meaning  to  ornainoit. 

atte  =  at  the. 

194.  tluit,  sc.  which  was.  Or  a^id  that  may  be  explained  as  an 
emphatic  conjunction  =  and  that  too. 

195.  Flood.  "With  an  hode  on  his  hed,  a  lousi  hatte  aboue." 
i'.P.  V.   [95. 

197.  love-knot,  an  intricate  knot,  typical  of  an  indissoluble 
union.  Such  minute  touches  of  description  reveal  the  charac- 
ter of  the  monk  with  a  wonderful  life-likeness. 

19S  balled  =^h2i\6..  "The  original  meaning  seems  to  have 
been:  (i)  shining;  (2)  white."  M.  "Smooth  as  a  ball"  T. 
"Besides  signifying  void  of  hair,  bald  is  used  in  the  sense  of 
having  a  white  mark  on  the  face."  Wedgwood.  Cheap  whiskey 
which  fires  the  face  is  called  bald-face  (see  Bartlett's  Diet.  Am.), 
in  which  the  O.E.  bal,  a  blaze,  is  clearly  recognizable. 

199.  Aiid  eek  connQcis  face  with  the  subject  o( schon,  as  though 
it  had  been  separately  expressed. 

«??£>)'«^  =  anointed,  p.p.  Verbs  ending  in  d  or  t  contract  the 
ending  cd :  (i)  by  dropping  the  d  or  t ;  (2)  by  transposing  the 
letters  ed  and  uniting  the  consonants;  (3)  or  by  transposing 
the  letters  of  the  termination:  e.g.,  ^/7/e  =  builded ;  caste  = 
casted  ;  /c/=^  letted;  fedde=ieAQA. 

200.  lord,  a  title  of  honor,  like  Sir,  given  to  persons  of  su- 
perior rank,  and  to  monks. 

in  good  point,  a  translation  of  the  French  cinbojipoint,  —  ro- 
tundity of  figure. 

201.  eyen  steep :=hY\^ht  eyes. 

"  Stepe  stayred  stones  of  his  stoute  throne."  E.E.  Al.  Poems, 
ii.  1396. 

rollyng  in  his  heede,  quick  in  their  movements ;  cf.  Gr.  £2,iiiutp, 
a  frequent  epithet  of  youths. 

202.  That,  rel.  pron.  pi.  relating  to  eyen.  "That  shone  like 
the  fire  under  a  caldron." 

203.  bootes  souplc.  The  term  boot  at  first  probably  denoted 
a  brogan  or  moccason.  a  bag  of  leather  laced  on  the  instep.  Prob- 
ably so  named  from  their  being  made  of  the  entire  skin  of  the 
animal;  cf.  bottle. 


124  XOTJiS    TO    THE    PROLOGUE. 

20s,.  forpyticd  ffoosi  =  ^  spirit  wasted  away  by  punishment. 
The  force  oi  for  in  composition  (Ger.  ver)  is  opposition,  dete- 
rioration, &c.  The  Greek  7r«pa  is  similarly  used,  and  (being 
from  the  same  root)  affords  a  good  explanation  of  the  prefix. 
\\a{)a  means  along-  side  of:  hence  as  a  prefix  denotes  that  which 
fails  of  coming  up  to  a  certain  mark. 

207.  bronn,  connected  with  byrrian,  to  burn. 

berye.  ^,^ffZ\>;^  in  Sanskrit  =  to  eat :  hence  Lat  bacca,  GoXh. 
ba.y'a  (A.S.  beria),  a  berry.  What  a  wonderful  revelation  of  the 
primitive  condition  of  man  is  given  in  the  simple  fact  that  the 
word  (or  food  is  berry,  —  that  which  grows  of  its  own  accord  ! 

208.  The  fourc  Ordrcs  were  :  (i)  The  Dominicans,  or  preach- 
ing friars;  (2)  The  Franciscans,  or  Gray  Friars;  (3)  The  Car- 
melites, or  White  Friars;   (4)  The  Augustine  (Austin)  Friars. 

zua}iiouii  =  (\-<tQ  ;  literally,  untrained,  unrestrained  :  ivan^=  vin  ; 
zVo^t'cw  =  trained.  '' Schomelciis  is  the  mon  .  .  .  that  deth  eni 
untoweschipe  "  =  that  doeth  any  wanton  act.  An.  R.,  170;  cf. 
"Ne  [beon  heo]  so  fulitowune  "=  be  they  never  so  coarse.  lb., 
244. 

209.  so/ew/we^  festive.  The  word  literally  means  annual^ 
and  originally  denoted  those  religious  ceremonies  which  were 
celebrated  annually:  hence  the  word  comes  to  have  two  mean- 
ings, —  (i)  demanding  reverence  ;  (2)  festive.  The  latter  meaning 
is  obsolete.  The  /  was  inserted  to  facilitate  the  pronunciation 
of  both  m  and  n ;  having  dropped  the^,  we  only  sound  the  m. 

111.  daliaicnce  and  fair  iangage  =  gossip  and  flattery. 

213.  -ivymmcn.  In  early  times  the  sexes  were  distinguished  by 
their  occupations.  Men  were  called  the  "weapon  side"  of  the 
family;  women,  the  "spindle  side."  The  first  gave  rise  to  -vep- 
men ;  the  second  to  ivif-tnen,  the  weaving  men. 

at  his  oivne  cost.  The  marriage  settlement  proposed  by  th? 
friends  of  the  bride  was  one  of  her  chief  attractions.  Pepys  (in 
his  Diary,  1662)  mentions  his  objections  to  the  small  dowry  of 
a  lady  proposed  for  his  brother,  and  broke  oft'  the  match  on  this 
account.     He  also  gave  his  sister  £600  as  her  dowry. 

214.  Scan  :  Unto  |  his  ordr'  |  he  was  |  &c. 

Post,  support,  pillar.  "  Originally  a  post  was  something  pos- 
ited or  placed  firmly  in  the  ground,  such  as  an  upright  piece  of 
wood  or  stone.  .  .  .  As  a  ^<?.';^  would  often  be  used  to  mark  a  fixed 
spot  of  ground,  as  in  a  mile-post,  it  came  to  mean  the  fixed  or  ap- 
pointed place,  where   the  post  was  placed,  as  in  a  military  post, 


NOTES    TO    Till-:    I'ROLOGUE.  1 25 

the  post  of  danger  or  honor,  &c.  The  fixed  places  where  horses 
were  kept  in  readiness  to  facilitate  rapid  travelling  during  the 
times  of  the  Roman  Empire  were  thus  called  posts,  and  thence 
the  whole  system  of  arrangement  for  the  conveyance  of  persons 
or  news  came  to  be  called  ike  posts.  The  name  has  retained  an 
exactly  similar  meaning  to  the  present  day  in  most  parts  of 
Europe;  and  we  still  use  it  in  post-chaise,  post-boy,  post-horse, 
postilion.  A  system  of  post  conveyance  for  letters  having  been 
organized  for  about  two  centuries  in  England  and  other  countries, 
this  is  perhaps  the  meaning  most  closely  associated  with  the 
word  post  at  present,  and  a  number  of  expressions  have  thus 
arisen :  such  as,  post-office,  postage.  .  .  .  Curiously  enough  we 
now  have  iron  letter-posts,  in  which  the  word  post  is  restored 
exactly  to  its  original  meaning."  Jevon's  Logic,  34.  From  the 
notion  fixed  or  placed,  the  word  easily  passes  to  the  idea  of  sup- 
port or  any  thing  placed  under. 

216.  c««/'/'e  ^  country.  "  Gegend  in  German  means  region 
or  country.  It  is  a  recognized  term;  and  it  signified  originally 
that  which  is  before  or  against,  what  forms  the  object  of  our 
view.  Now,  in  Latin,  gegeti,  or  against,  would  be  expressed  by 
contra;  and  the  Germans,  not  recollecting  at  once  the  Latin 
word  rcgio,  took  to  translating  their  idea  of  Gegend,  that  which 
was  before  them,  by  contratum  [^co7itra]  or  terra  co?itrata.  This 
became  the  Italian  contrada,  the  French  contree,  the  English 
country.''''     Max  Miiller,  Sc.  of  L.,  291. 

The  travelling  friars  were  always  welcome  guests  at  the 
houses  of  men  desirous  of  information,  as  they  alone  were  pos- 
sessed of  any  knowledge  of  foreign  countries ;  and  besides  the 
current  news  of  the  day,  which  no  other  class  had  such  means 
of  hearing,  they  were  acquainted  with  science  both  experimental 
"xnd  practical. 

217.  xvorthi,  noble,  distinguished  :  contrasted  in  ra7ik  with 
the  frankleyns,  and  as  to  residence,  in  town,  as  opposed  to  the 
cotaitry. 

toun  (A.S.  /««),  properly  a  plot  of  ground  enclosed  by  an 
hedge  (A.S.  tynan,  to  close) ;  many  dwellings  enclosed;  that  is, 
a  village.  The  word  for  city  is  burh  (from  beorgan,  to  protect), 
which  denoted  a  number  of  dwellings  surrounded  hy  a  wall. 
Wiclif  uses  toiin  in  the  sense  of  field  :  "  I  ha\e  bought  a  toun." 
Luke  xiv.  18.  From  this  root  we  have  tunnel,  an  enclosed 
space. 


126  NOTES    TO   THE  PROLOGUE. 

218.  confessiouM,  quadrisyllable. 

219.  mofe  than  a  curat.  A  curate  could  not  grant  absolution 
in  all  cases. 

220.  licentiat.  He  was  a  licentiate  of  his  order;  that  is,  he 
had  license  from  the  Pope  to  grant  absolution  in  all  cases. 

224.  Titer  as  he  zviste  han  =  in  those  cases  where  he  knew  he 
would  have.  Han,  inf.,  contracted  from  haven;  ace.  subject 
omitted. 

pitance,  literally  =  a  mess  of  victuals  given  in  charity;  hence 
a  gift  for  a  religious  purpose.  "  An  extraordinary  allowance  of 
victuals  given  to  monastics  in  addition  to  their  usual  commons." 
T.  Sometimes  an  addition  allowed  to  the  portion  of  a  single 
person,  and  hence  denoting  any  small  portion. 

225.  For  —  for  to  give.  The  first /o/-  is  a  conjunction;  the 
second  with  to,  the  sign  of  the  gerund.  In  this  case  we  would 
still  use  the  gerundial  construction;  as,  "For,  giving  unto  a 
poor  order,  is  a  sign,"  &c. 

226.  signe^a.  sign.  In  E.E.  the  article  is  often  omitted, 
where  our  present  idiom  requires  it.  Nouns  were  then  rather 
the  names  of  things  than  of  conceptions.  So  Spenser,  F.  C^,  I. 
vi.  Title:  — 

"  Fayre  Una  is  releast  whome  salvage  nation  does  adore." 
/5   ivell  i-schrive=is  worthily   shriven;    has  been   worthily 
absolved. 

227.  he  gaf,  he.  The  first  he  refers  to  the  penitent,  the  second 
to  the  friar. 

Dorste  tnake  avaunt^he.  felt  confident;  literally,  he  dared 
to  make  a  boast. 

229.  0/ his  herte,  &c.=  is  so  hard-hearted.  This  construction 
is  the  A.S.  genitive  of  part  in  which  the  quality  is  conceived;  it 
is  equivalent  to  the  Latin  ablative  of  limitation;  e.g..  ficdibus 
aeger. 

230.  He  may  not  ivepe  =  he  is  not  able  to  weep.  The  literal 
meaning  oC  may  is  to  be  able.  A.S.  magan.  "  Thei  schulen  not 
mowe."  Luke  xiii.  24,  Wiclif.  They  shall  not  be  able.  A.  V. 
So  also  in  the  preterite  : 

"  His  felaw  Aristippus  hight 
Which  mochel  couthe  and  mochel  might." 

Gower's  Con.  Am.,  iii.  160. 
although,  emphatic   form  of  though,  which   is  a  derivative  of 
the  demonstrative  pronoun  ;  the  ugh  is  the  intensive  pronominal 


NOTES   TO   THE  PROLOGUE.  1 27 

particle;  Goth,  u/i,  Lat.  ce.  Though  is  therefore  equivalent  to 
L,at   quanquam. 

him  sore  S!nerte=^  it  m\g\\t  pain  him  severely:  he  might  be 
trulj  penitent. 

Hhn,  ace.  after  smerte. 

231.  in  stede  =  in  place.     Now  usually  written  together. 

232.  Men  mooi  =  one  must. 

233.  tyfet.  "  When  the  order  degenerated,  the  friar  combined 
with  the  spiritual  functions  the  occupation  of  peddler,  huckster, 
mountebank,  and  quack  doctor."     Brewer  (quoted  bj  Morris). 

234.  wyfes,  dat.  pi.  of  wif. 

235.  noote=\o\c&  for  singing.  Note  (Lat.  uotus)  is:  (i)  a 
mark  by  which  anything  may  be  known  ;  (2)  (in  music)  a  mark 
designating  certain  sounds;  (3)  by  metonomy,  such  a  sound; 
(4)  a  musical  voice,  —  a  voice  capable  of  making  the  notes. 

236.  cotithe  he  ^yw^e^knew  he  how  to  sing.  Synge  and 
pleyen,  inf.  depending  upon  cotithe. 

ro^e  =  a  musical  instrument.  "  Notker  says  that  it  was  the 
s.n^i\ent psalter iu7n,\i\x\.  altered  in  shape  and  with  an  additional 
number  of  strings."     T. 

237.  yeddyjiges  (dissyllable)  =  romances  or  poetic  tales,  pop- 
ular songs. 

utterly  =  from  every  one  :  wholly,  to  the  utmost. 

238.  Jlour-de-lys=^  lily. 

239.  2"^£?/'/o  =  besides,  literally  =  to  this. 

240.  He  kneiv  the  tavernes  zvel,  a  recommendation  as  a  fellow 
traveller. 

241.  tappestere ^ta^ister.  The  termination  5/e;'<?,5^er,  denotes 
a  feminine  agent,  although  in  the  fourteenth  century  it  was  not 
ilways  thus  used ;  this  may  have  arisen  from  the  gradual  trans- 
fer to  men  of  certain  avocations  which  in  more  warlike  times 
belonged  exclusively  to  women.  The  gradual  loss  of  the  idea  of 
gender  in  this  suffix  would  indicate  the  decadence  of  that  state 
of  society  in  which  the  husband  was  styled  the  -ivaepman  (weapon- 
man),  and  the  introduction  of  a  higher  civilization.  We  have 
also  formed  a  class  of  words  by  analogy,  in  which,  however, 
something  of  the  original  idea  of  feminine  inferiority  is  pre- 
served; ?is,  youfigster.  We  find  in  O.E.  breivstere,  tvebbestere 
(mas.  ivebbe),  forestere,  hucksters,  &c.  We  still  use  spinster  as 
a  feminine.  In  the  case  of  songster  we  have  made  a  double 
feminine  by  adding  the  French  suffix  ess.     This  termination  is 


128  NOTES    TO   THE  FROLOGUE. 

by  some  referred  to  the  Sanskrit  strt,  meaning  woman  :  but  the 
ending  ter  in  all  languages  of  our  family  signifies  the  agent  or 
doer;  e.g.,  Sansk.  peiar,  Lat.  pater,  Gr.  naTTjp,  Goth,  fadar, 
Ger.  vater,  Icel.  fadir,  A.S.  faeder,  Eng.  fatker^the  one  who 
feeds  or  supports.  It  is  not  impossible  that  an  inorganic  s  may 
have  been  added,  thus  giving  rise  to  a  masculine  s  ter. 

243.  tvorthi  here  refers  to  social  standing;  cf.  the  expression, 
"  worshipful  sir." 

as  he,  sc.  was. 

244.  Accordede  fiot^it  did  not  comport  with  his  dignity. 
The  subject  of  accordede  is  to  hau,  Sic,  in  the  next  line. 

as  by  his  faculte  ^  as  tending  to  lessen  his  influence. 
by  here  =  against ;  cf.  "  I  know  nothing  by  myself."    i  Cor.  iv. 
4;  i.e.,  against  myself. 

245.  sike,  pi.  of  sick.  This  use  oi sick  is  now  called  an  Amer- 
icanism, the  English  restricting  the  meaning  of  the  word  to 
nausea. 

246.  "  It  is  not  becoming,  it  may  not  profit  one  to  associate 
(have  dealings)  with  such  poor  people."  This  is  in  explanation 
of  11.  243,  244. 

honest  is  here  used  in  its  Latin  signification  =  honorable. 

247.  Scan  :  Fo-r  |  to  del  |  en  with  |  no  such  |  poraille. 
Dclcn,  to   share,  to  have  intercourse  with.     A.S.  daela?t,  to 

divide.  Hence,  as  in  all  commercial  transactions  there  is  a 
sharing  of  values,  the  word  easily  came  to  have  its  present 
meaning  of  doing  business.  We  (/ca/ with  the  grocer;  that  is, 
\ve  give  him  a.  part  of  our  money  for  a  part  of  his  goods.  For 
in  this  construction  seems  only  to  indicate  the  gerund  :  it  has 
not  the  force  of  a  preposition,  as  to  deleft  is  the  subject  of 
the  sentence.  It  may  possibly  be  construed  as  a  conjunction 
introducing  the  sentence,  but  thrown  out  of  its  natural  place  by 
the  exigencies  of  the  metre. 

248.  «/=  altogether. 

riche=ihe.  rich,  pi.  adj.  The  language,  because  of  the  loss 
of  inflection  in  adjectives,  does  not  allow  the  omission  of  the 
article  in  cases  like  this. 

sellers  of  vitaille=  those  who  would  give  him  his  livelihood. 
Sellers  here  means  givers;  cf.  "  Syle  tham  the  the  bidde." 
Matt.  v.  42.     Give  to  him  that  asketh. 

249.  Scan  :   And  o  |  v'ral  ther  |  &c. 
schulde  =  raight,  subj.  pret. 


NOTKti    TO    Till':    l'liU/J)(WK.  1 29 

rt/'/.sf  =  come  back.  A  figure  taken  from  the  "coming  up" 
of  seed.      He  was  courteous  where  it  would  paj. 

250.  lozvely  of  service  =  humble  in  performing  his  services. 

251.  Notice  the  negatives  ti'ces  no  man  uozvlur. 

Ve r/ieous  =^  actlva,  energetic,  diligent.  From  Lat.  vir,  a  man. 
Virtue  is  therefore  manliness,  or  manhood,  which  at  first  was 
synonymous  with  physical  bravery,  afterwards  applied  figura- 
tively to  denote  moral  courage  in  resisting  evil,  and  finally  it 
has  been  applied  to  the  spirit  which  resists  the  sins  to  which 
one  is  peculiarly  exposed.  What  a  revelation  of  character  is 
given  by  the  employment  of  this  word;  as,  v/r^uoso,  to  desig- 
nate one  skilled  in  ornamental  arts;  or  vertu-,  to  denote  articles 
whose  only  use  is  ornament! 

252.  beggere,  beggar.  That  is,  a  man  with  a  bag,  which  was 
the  usual  sign  of  a  mendicant.  It  is  a  curious  and  instructive 
fact  that  this  word  is  not  from  the  A.S. ;  cf.  "  Scheome,  ich 
telle.   .   .   .  uorte  beggen  ase  on  harlot."     An.  R.,  356. 

253.  Oo  sckoo=^a.  shoe.     Some  read  a  sou,  a  half-penny. 
Scan  :  For  though  |  a  wid  |  ew'  had  |  de  noght  |  00  schoo. 

254.  In  principio.  The  beginning  of  St.  John's  Gospel  in 
the  Vulgate. 

256.  furchas  —  y?c«/c  =  proceeds  of  begging;  regular  income. 
■tvel  better  =  much  better. 

257.  rage  and  pleycfi  are  inf.  depending  upon  coutJic. 

25S.  love-dayes.  Days  appointed  upon  which  differences  might 
be  settled  by  arbitration,  without  recourse  to  law-  These  arbi- 
trators were  usually  chosen  from  the  clergy,  who  thus  had  a 
fine  opportunity  of  enriching  themselves,  —  an  opportunity  of 
which  they  were  not  slow  to  take  advantage.  "Mr.  Kitchin  sug- 
gests that  these  private  days  of  peace  are  analogous  to  the  t ruga 
dei,  —  truce  of  God,  —  so  often  proclaimed  by  bishops  between 
A.D.  1000  and  1300.  This  truce  lasted  from  3  p.m.  Saturday  to 
6  A.M.  on  Monday."  M.  Perhaps,  however,  the  word  may  be 
nothing  more  than  a  corruption  of  law-days,  —  the  days  on  which 
sheriffs  held  their  courts-  "They  [the  lawyers]  follow  Sises  and 
Sessions,  Letes,  Lawdays  and  Hundredes."  Latimer,  vii  Ser.  53, 
Arber.  Letes^=io\s\\  courts  :  hutidredes^courts  for  the  hundreds. 
The  fact  that  Lawdays,  or  days  upon  which  terms  of  court  opened, 
were  usually  determined  by  the  festivals  of  the  church,  would 
facilitate  this  confusion.  "  It  was  ordered  by  the  laws  of  King  Ed- 
ward the  Confessor,  that  from  Advent  to  the  octave  of  the  Epipha- 

0 


ISO  NOTES    TO    THE   FROLOGUE. 

ny,  from  Septuagesima  to  the  octave  of  Easter,  from  the  Ascension 
to  the  octave  of  Pentecost,  and  from  three  in  the  afternoon  of 
all  Saturdays  till  Monday  morning,  the  peace  of  God  and  of 
holy  church  shall  be  kept  throughout  all  the  kingdom.  And  so 
extravagant  was  afterwards  the  regard  that  was  paid  to  these 
holy  times  that  .  .  .  Britton  is  express  that  in  the  reign  of  King 
Edward  the  First  no  secular  plea  could  be  held,  nor  any  man 
sworn  on  the  Evangelists  in  the  times  of  Advent,  Lent,  Pente- 
cost, harvest  and  vintage,  the  days  of  the  great  litanies,  and  all 
solemn  festivals.  But  he  adds  that  the  bishops  did  nevertheless 
grant  dispensations  .  .  .  that  assizes  and  juries  might  be  taken 
in  some  of  these  holy  seasons.  .  .  .  The  portions  of  time  that 
were  not  included  within  these  prohibited  seasons  fell  naturally 
into  a  fourfold  division,  and,  from  some  festival  day  that  im- 
mediately preceded  their  commencement,  were  denominated  the 
Terms  of  St.  Hilary,  of  Easter,  of  the  Holy  Trinity,  and  of  St. 
Michael.  .  .  .  There  are  in  each  of  these  terms  stated  days  called 
days  iti  bank ;  that  is,  days  of  appearance  in  the  court  of  common 
bench.  They  are  generally  at  the  distance  of  about  a  week  from 
each  other,  and  have  reference  to  some  festival  of  the  church. 
On  some  one  of  these  days  in  bank  all  original  writs  must  be 
made  returnable.  .  .  .  But  on  every  return  day  in  the  term  the 
person  summoned  has  three  days  of  grace,  beyond  the  day 
named  in  the  writ,  in  which  to  make  his  appearance."  Black- 
stone,  iii.  276. 

259.  tker  =  on  such  occasions;  i.e.,  in  putting  in  pleas. 
There,  being  the  dative  of  the  demonstrative,  may  mean  either 
in  that  place,  or  at  that  time. 

261.  maistcr,  chief,  or  head  of  a  religious  house. 

263.  That  rounded,  &c.  ^=  that  kept  its  shape  round  as  a  bell 
in  a  press  or  throng,  —  alluding  to  the  shortness  of  the  garment, 
which,  upon  the  full  figure  of  the  friar,  resembled  a  bell;  and  to 
the  quality  and  abundance  of  the  material,  which  kept  its  shape 
even  in  a  press  or  crowd. 

265.  To  make  his  Rnglissch  sivete,  &c.  To  those  ecclesiastics 
whose  native  language  was  French  the  English  must  have 
seemed  harsh.  We  have  rendered  it  much  smoother  than  it 
was  in  the  time  of  Chaucer  by  silencing  the  gutturals. 

266.  >^«r/j«_.o- probably  ^playing  on  any  musical  instrument. 
See  line  236. 

268.  don,  pi.  (ovdocn.  This  use  of  do  is  common,  but  improper 


NOTES    TO    THE  PROLOGUE.  131 

Do  can  he  used  in  place  of  the  verb  only  by  ellipsis,  in  which 
case  the  verb  omitted  can  be  restored  from  the  preceding  clause. 
We  evidently  cannot  say  "do  twinkled,"  but  we  can  say  "We 
love  because  you  do."  Originally  do  could  only  be  followed  by 
the  infinitive;  we  have  relaxed  the  rule  so  as  further  to  allow 
the  infinitive  to  be  suggested  by  a  difi:erent  mode.  The  force  of 
this  rule  is,  that  do  must  not  be  employed  as  an  auxiliary  and  as 
a  leading  verb  in  the  same  sentence. 

269.  cleped,  called,  monosyllable.  Still  retained  in  archaic 
English  in  the  p.  participle  j'c/c//f. 

270.  forked  bcrd.  A  forked  beard  was  the  fashion  at  this 
time. 

271.  high  OH  hors  ^^erect  upon  his  horse;  cf.  '"He  carries  a 
high  head."  We  say  "on  foot"  or  "a-foot;"  but  on  horse  is 
obsolete.  We  use  the  preposition  with  the  gerund  with  the  omis- 
sion of  the  article  or  relative  word,  as  a-htutting. 

272.  c/rt^5C(f=  clasped.  Connected  with  c///^,  to  embrace.  Tlie 
word  clip  is  still  used  to  denote  an  iron  passing  around  the  axle 
of  a  wagon.  The  tendency  to  shift  the  position  of  the  letter  5 
appears  in  A. S. ;  e.g.,  asce-,  or  ac^e.  ashes ;  ascian  or  acsian,io 
ask,  which  is  still  vulgarly  pronounced  ax. 

faire  and  fetysly^  well  and  neatly. 

275.  "  Always  having  reference  to  the  increase  of  his  gains." 

5'o2v;/)'»_^c  =  boasting,  sounding;  having  reference  to  ;  cf.  the 
legal  phrase  "  Sounding  in  damages." 

/^c;/c;t5  =  the  increase.  The  article  (definitive)  frequently 
coalesces  with  the  defined  word  when  such  word  begins  with  a 
vowel.  The  case  endings  of  nouns  were  originally  definitive 
words,  which  have  coalesced  with  the  stem  form,  in  the  same 
manner  as  the  verbal  endings,  which  were  originally  pronouns, 
have  become  attached  to  the  stem.  So  long  as  the  original  force 
of  these  endings  is  felt,  the  subjects  of  verbs,  when  pronouns,  are 
omitted,  and  definitive  words  are  in  like  manner  omitted  in  the 
case  of  nouns.  In  Early  Saxon  there  is  no  article;  in  Early 
English  it  is  quite  sparingly  used  :  but  when  the  real  force  of 
the  inflectional  endings  was  lost,  the  article  and  other  definitive 
words  have  been  introduced  to  supply  their  place.  From  this 
tendency  to  unite  the  article  and  noun  in  pronunciation,  —  a 
sort  of  inflection  at  the  beginning  of  the  word,  —  several  curious 
forms  have  arisen;  e.g.,  notice,  the  initial  n  being  the  ace.  ter- 
mination of  the  article ;  so  also,  tiokes  (oaks),  tiale  (ale).    But  one 


132  NOTES    TO    THE    PROLOGUE. 

of  the  most  curious  instances  is  the  Turkish  name  for  Constan- 
tinople,—  Stamboul,  which  is  a  corruption  of  the  Greek  f/f  t^v 
7ro/lu'=  to  the  citj'.  The  Turks  frequently  hearing  this  phrase, 
and  not  knowing  its  meaning,  quite  naturally  took  it  to  be  tlie 
name  of  the  city. 

276.  zvcre  kcpt  =  \\e  wished  the  sea  to  be  watched  or  guarded 
"  so  that  he  should  not  suffer  (rom  piraies  or  privateers."     M. 

for  eiiy  t/iinge^^Vit  all  hazards,  by  all  means.  For  here  has 
the  meaning  iu  comparison  -mH/i,  in  prejcrence  to.  He  wished 
the  sea  to  be  guarded  in  preference  to  any  thing  else.  Morris, 
however,  explains  for  hy  for  fear  of  which  does  not  seem  to 
me  satisfactory. 

277.  Middelburgh.,  a  port  in  the  Netherlands. 
Orewelle,  a  port  in  Essex. 

278.  "  He  knew  how  to  give  French  crowns  in  exchange ; "  that 
is,  to  act  as  a  money-changer,  a  class  of  extortioners. 

ic/^cc/f/t'i- =  shillings  {s/iicldings).  French  crowns  marked 
with  a  shield. 

279.  his  ivit  i5/5c//(?  =  employed  his  wits.  Wit  is  here  used 
somewhat  as  we  still  use  the  word  to  denote  the  mental  faculties, 
but  with  a  dash  of  contempt,  as  though  they  were  put  to  an  un- 
worthy use ;  cf.  "A  clerk  had  beset  his  while,"  Millere's  Tale, 
=  A  clerk  had  employed  his  time. 

250.  JVo  man  wisle,  Sic,  a  fine  stroke  of  description. 

251.  "So  stately  was  he  in  his  demeanor  in  his  bargains, 
and  in  making  his  arrangements  for  borrowing  money."  Mor- 
ris explains  so  steadily,  probably  an  error  of  the  press.  The  idea 
is  that  he  had  such  a  confident  air  that,  even  when  borrowing 
money,  no  man  suspected  that  he  was  in  debt. 

252.  bargayns.  "  O.  Fr.  bargiiig?ier,  to  chafter,  bargain,  or 
more  properly  (says  Cotgrave)  to  wrangle,  haggle,  brabble,  in 
the  making  of  a  bargain.  The  proper  meaning  of  the  word  is 
contest,  debate,  and  it  was  frequently  used  in  O.K.  and  Scotch 
in  the  sense  of  fight,  skirmish."     Wedgwood. 

283.  -withalle,  in  spite  of  all,  nevertheless.  The  original  force 
of  with  =  against,  which  is  still  retained  in  compounds;  e.g., 
ivitkstand,  xvithhold.  Withalle  is  simply  an  emphatic  form  of 
■with,  and  will  vary  in  meaning  as  ivith  varies. 

284.  ^?<i?  introduces  an  unexpected  clause:  one  would  expect 
that  being  a  zuorihy  man  his  name  would  be  known. 

I not=^l  ne  wot.     I  know  not.     The  negative  frequently  com- 


NOTES    TO    THE    moLOUUK.  133 

bines  with  the  following  word ;  as,  najn^=\\e  am,  «i75  =  ne  was, 
nath^=  ne  hath,  7tolde  =  ne  wolde. 

men  hitii  calle  =^\fhiit  one  might  call  him, — what  his  name 
was. 

285.  Clerl' =  a.  scholar,  an  educated  person.  This  word 
aflbrds  an  admirable  illustration  of  the  changes  which  the 
meaning  of  a  word  undergoes  corresponding  to  certain  changes 
in  the  objects  designated  by  it.  Clerk  is  originally  the  Greek 
kXijplkoc, —  literally,  chosen  by  lot.  It  was  in  very  early  times 
applied  to  the  clergy,  because,  as  is  supposed,  Matthias  was  thus 
selected  to  be  an  Apostle.  The  word  clergy  is  the  same  word 
derived  through  the  Latin  clericaius.  During  the  Middle  Ages 
the  ecclesiastics  were  possessed  of  all  the  learning  in  the  world,  so 
that  the  word  clerk  became  synonymous  with  learned  person ; 
and,  as  the  estimation  of  learning  fell,  it  signified  any  one  who 
could  read;  while  clergie  was  used  to  denote  learning,  or  men  of 
learning.  The  word  now  signifies  one  whose  chief  employment 
is  writing,  or  an  attendant  in  a  store,  probably  because  writing 
was  deemed  an  accomplishment  essential  to  a  shop-keeper,  in 
keeping  his  accounts. 

Oxenford  =  Oxford,  "  as  if  the  ford  of  the  oxcfi  (A  S.  Ox>ia- 
ford),  but  the  root  ox  {csk,  o/ise)  is  of  Celtic  origin,  and  signifies 
'Mater.'"  M.  Oxenford  therefore  means  "the  ford  of  the  (river) 
Ouse." 

286.  That  mito  logic.  Sic.  Who  for  a  long  time  had  given  his 
attention  to  logic  Literally,  who  had  gone  into  logic,  &c. 
We  still  speak  of  going  into  law  or  any  other  profession.  The 
condition  in  which  the  study  left  the  student  is  a  satire  upon  the 
method  of  teaching  logic  then  in  vogue. 

286.  He;  that  is,  the  Clerk. 

288.  right  fat  ^\e.ry  fat-  This  use  o{  right  is  a  vulgarism  at 
present,  or  confined  to  colloquial  use.  We  say  "  right  otV," 
"right  away."  "A  Southerner  would  say,  'It  rains  right 
hard.'"     Bartlett's  Diet. 

291.  geten,  p.p.  =  gotten,  got. 

him,  dative  =  for  himself. 

beficfce^^n  ecclesiastical  living.  Tliis  word  is  tlie  same  with 
benefit  (Lat-  bene,facere),  and  originally  signified  an  estate  in 
lands  granted  for  life  only,  and  held  at  the  good-will  of  the 
owner.  It  afterwards  technically  signified  the  grant  of  temporal 
authority   by  the   Pope   as   a   fee  of  the    Roman    see.     Finally, 


134  NOTES   TO    THE   PBOLOQUE. 

upon  the  extinction  of  feudalism,  it  was  restricted  to  religious 
livings 

292.  so  ivorldly  =  sufficiently  worldly :  so  is  here  equivalent 
to  so  as. 

293.  For  him  was  lever,  Sic.  =  For  he  would  rather  have. 
Literally,  it  was  more  agreeable  to  him  to  have.  /iit)i,  dative 
after  lever. 

294.  Scan  :  Twen  |  ty  book  |  es  clad  |  &c.  Tiventy  was  prob- 
ably pronounced  V  vjenty. 

296.  Z'^c;/^=than,  ace.  of  the  definitive;    cf.  Lat.  quam. 
5«tf/;'/c ^  psaltery,  a  Greek  instrument  of  music;  cf.  psalm, 

a  hymn  to  be  sung  to  the  psaltery. 

297.  al  be  =  although  it  be;  for  al  be  it,  usually  written  as 
one  word,  albeit.  Sometimes  we  find  al  standing  for  this  expres- 
sion. Be  is  here  in  the  subjunctive,  which  accounts  for  the 
omission  of  though.  "Albeit  I  do  not  say  to  thee."  Phile- 
mon, 19. 

fhilosophre.  There  is  a  play  here  upon  the  word  philoso- 
pher, which  was  used  to  designate  an  alchemist,  who  pretended 
to  turn  base  metals  into  gold  by  the  so-called  '-Philosopher's 
Stone,"  as  well  as  a  lover  of  learning,  a  student. 

295.  hadde,  which  is  usually  a  monosyllable,  is  here  a  dis- 
syllable. 

299.  of  his  frendes  =  irom  his  friends,  genitive  of  source. 

301.  gajt  preye  =  prayed,  did  pray.  Ga?i  is  a  contraction  of 
began,  and  is  used  as  a  past  auxiliary. 

302.  gaf  him  =  gave  to  him.  him,  dative.  It  was  not 
unusual  at  this  time  for  students  to  support  themselves  at  the 
universities  by  begging. 

ivherwith  =  with  what.  This  word  is  still  in  use  in  this 
sense,  and  finely  exhibits  the  pronominal  force  of  -vhcrc  (dative 
of  -what)  after  the  preposition  -with. 

306.  high  se)itence  =  oi  great  pith  or  meaning. 

307.  sozv7ivnge  iti  moral  vertii  =  in  consonance  with  moral 
virtue.  The  word  cojisonance  preserves  the  figure,  and  perhaps 
gives  the  sense  more  accurately  than  the  usual  explanation  tend- 
ing to,  which  would  have  reference  to  tlie  hearers,  rather  than  to 
the  revelation  of  the  speaker's  virtue;  cf.  note,  1.  275. 

moral,  from  the  Latin  mos,  manner,  custom,  habit,  passes  to 
the  meaning  correct  manners,  and  riglit  habits,  —  that  which 
ought  to  be  as  well  as  that  which  is. 


NOTES    TO    THE   PROLOGUE.  135 

30S.  This  line  aptly  describes  the  true  scholar. 

309.  A  Sergeant  of  Lawe  =  a  lawyer  of  the  highest  rank. 
"The  degrees  were  those  of  barristers  (first  styled  apprentices, 
from  apprcndrc  to  learn),  who  answered  to  our  bachelors;  as 
the  state  and  degree  of  a  serjeant,  scrvieiitis  ad  legem,  did  to 
that  of  doctor."  Blackstone,  i.  23.  Sergciuit  is  anotlicr  form 
of  servant,  g  in  French  words  frequently  becoming  w  or  t;  in 
English. 

■war  and  zvyse^  cautious  and  skilful. 

310.  Thai  =^  who. 

Parvys.  The  portico  of  St.  Paul's,  where  the  lawyers  were 
accustomed  to  meet  for  consultation.  The  frequency  of  his  being 
at  these  consultations  indicates  his  reputation  and  his  practice. 

311.  Ther.  Used  to  introduce  the  sentence.  It  refers  to  the 
subject  already  mentioned. 

312.  of  gret  reverence  ^  ■a.  person  to  whom  great  reverence 
was  shown,  entitled  to  great  respect  for  his  opinions.  Genitive 
of  quality  or  characteristic- 

313.  He  semedc  such  =  He  appeared  like  a  learned  lawyer. 

314.  Justice  .  .  .  in  assize.  "  The  judges  upon  their  circuits 
now  sit  by  virtue  of  five  several  authorities.  ...  4.  A  commission 
of  assize,  directed  to  the  justices  and  Serjeants  therein  named,  to 
take  (together  with  their  associates)  assizes  in  the  several 
counties."  Blackstone,  i.  59.  These  assizes  tried  real-estate 
questions. 

315.  patent  signifies  any  letter  open  to  public  perusal,  or 
addressed  to  the  public.  A  document  conferring  nobility  is 
called  Letters-patent  of  Nobility.  In  this  country  a  document 
conveying  full  title  to  lands  by  the  government,  or  granting  an 
exclusive  right  to  an  invention,  is  called  a  patent.  Patent  here 
refers  to  his  commission  as  serjeant;  commission,  to  his  appoint- 
ment to  the  assize. 

317.  fees  =  money.  This  word  originally  signified  cattle 
(cf.  Lat.  peciinia  from  pecus) ;  then,  as  cattle  were  used  as  a 
medium  of  exchange,  it  signified  money  or  the  means  of  ex- 
change; and  as  cattle  generally  constituted  a  person's  propertv, 
it  also  signified  property  in  general,  -whether  cattle  or  not. 
Cattle  being  used  in  early  times  as  a  medium  of  exchange,  it 
would  seem  from  a  passage  in  ^schylus,  Ag-  36.  that  the  value 
of  coined  money  was  at  first  regulated  by  the  better  known  value 
of  cattle. 


136  NOTES   TO   THE  PROLOGUE. 

"Moreover  King  Servius,  at  the  firste,  when  he  made  brazen 
coine,  stamped  the  peeces  with  the  portraiture  of  Sheepe,  Kine  and 
Oxen."     Holland's  Plinie,  I.  550. 

318.  purckasour  ^■pro&ecutor.  Probably  refers  to  his  acts  as 
king's  counsel. 

319.  fee  syinplc^=  possession  without  restriction.  Fee  origin- 
ally denoting  property,  —  that  to  which  one  had  the  right  of 
possession,  —  naturally  came  to  have  the  meaning  of  possession  ; 
simple  (Lat.  sine  plica,  without  a  fold)  means  without  any  com- 
plications :  hence  fee  symplc  would  mean  possession  or  a  title, 
without  any  of  the  many  complications  to  which  real-estate  titles 
in  England  are  often  subject.  These  courts  of  assizes  were  held 
for  the  purpose  of  trying  landed  questions,  and  the  meaning  here 
is,  "No  title  was  to  him  more  difficult  of  decision  than  a  case  in 
fee-simple." 

320.  His  purchasyng,  &c.  "  His  prosecutions  might  not  be 
tainted  with  any  suspicion  of  collusion."  M.  e?{/ec/e,  as  a  legal 
phrase,  means  to  contaminate  with  any  illegality. 

323.  In  termcs^ai  the  sessions  of  the  court.     See  note,  I.  258. 
Caas  and  domes  alle  =  lie  had  full  knowledge  of  all  the  cases 

and  decisions  rendered  in  the  courts  from  the  time  of  King  Wil- 
liam ;  i.e.,  William  the  Conqueror,  a.d.  1066. 

324.  zvere  falle  =  were  fallen  or  happened.  Intransitives 
often  form  an  aorist  perfect  with  the  auxiliary  be.  "  When  he 
was  set."  Matt.  v.  2  (A.V.).  "When  he  hadde  sete."  lb.; 
Wiclif. 

falle  =  happened.  "  Sit  still  imtil  thou  know  how  the  matter 
will  fall."     Ruth  iii.  iS. 

325.  <?»(//Vc  =  tell  a  story. 

make  a  t  king  ^yvrite.  a  poem.  "A  poet  is  as  much  as  to  say 
a  maker.  And  our  English  name  well  conformes  with  tijc  Greeke 
word;  for  of  noielv,  to  make,  they  call  a  maker  poeta."  Putten- 
ham's  Arte  of  Poesy,  cap.  i  (Arber).  Prof  Earle,  Philology 
of  the  English  Tongue,  p.  200,  certainly  against  the  weight  of 
authority,  explains  this  line  thus  :  "  In  such  a  sense  it  is  said  by 
Chaucer  that  his  Sergeaunt  of  Lawe  could  endite  and  make  a 
THYNG,  meaning,  he  could  make  a  good  contract,  was  a  good 
conveyancer."     Cf.  Ger.  dingen,  to  bargain. 

327.  pleyn  by  rootc,  plead  from  memory. 

328.  koomly,  dressed  plainly,  in  the  manner  one  woiUd  be 
dressed  at  home.  The  word  implies  the  absence  of  ornament, 
and  is  analogically  applied  to  the  features. 


NOTES    TO    THE   PEOLOUUE.  13 7 

329.  G/;y/=  girded.  Chaucer  frequently  contracts  the  preter- 
ites of  verbs  ending  in  d  or  t. 

330.  telle  I  no  loiger  tale  ;==  I  make  no  further  account 
"  Litel  tale  hath  he  told  Of  enj  drem."  Nonne  Preestes  Tale, 
29S.  Little  account  made  he  of  any  dream.  Telle  and  tale  are 
from  A.S.  iellan,  to  reckon. 

331.  Fraiikelcyn  =  7\  wealthy  freeholder;  the  only  real  dis- 
tinction between  him  and  others  of  his  class  being  the  largeness 
of  his  estate. 

332.  dayeseye  ^^  A?C\^y:  literally  ^rty5  eye,  Chaucer's  favorite 
flower;  upon  the  etymology  of  which  he  dwells  with  a  lover's 
fondness. 

"  Now  have  I  than  eke  this  condicioun 
That  of  alle  the  floures  in  the  niede, 
Than  love  I  most  those  floures  white  and  rede. 
Such  that  men  callen  daisies  in  oin-  toun." 

Legende  of  Goode  Women,  40. 
"The  longe  day  I  shope  me  for  to  abide 
For  nothing  elles,  and  I  shall  nat  lie 
But  for  to  look  upon  the  daisie 
That  wel  by  reason  men  it  calle  maie 
The  Daisie  or  els  the  eje  of  the  day." 

lb.,  iSo. 
"Those  who  transferred  the  title  to  our  little  field  flower 
meant  no  doubt  to  liken  its  inner  yellow  disk  or  shield  to  the 
great  golden  orb  of  the  sun,  and  the  white  florets  which  encircle 
this  disk  to  the  rays  which  the  sun  spreads  on  all  sides  round 
him."     Trench,  St.  of  Words,  44. 

334.  Scan  :  Wel  lov  |  ede  h'in  |  the  mor  |  w'  a  sop  |  in  wyn. 
sop  171  wyu,  bread  dipped   in  wine.     Bacon  says  that  sops  in 

wine    inebriate,    quantity    for   quantity,    more   than  wine  itself, 
which  probably  accounts  for  the  Frankeleyn's  fondness. 

335.  To  lyven  in  delite^^to  live  in  luxury.  "The  gratification 
of  the  appetite  for  food  is  the  most  direct  and  universal  of  all 
pleasures,  and  therefore  the  one  most  likely  to  be  taken  as  the 
type  of  delight  in  general."     Wedgwood. 

336.  owne  is  used  to  heighten  the  idea  of  personal  relation. 
The  verbs  to  oivtt  and  to  owe  are  generally  referred  to  the  same 
root.  A.S.  agan  (cf.  Gr.  s,r«i')-  The  original  verb  took  difltrent 
forms  to  express  diflerent  meanings,  — the  one  denoting  pecun- 
iary liability,  the  other  moral  obligation.     "It  may  sound  odd 


138  NOTES    TO    THE   PROLOGUE. 

to  speak  of  a  man  as  oiv?ii?ig'  vihc^i  he  ozucs  ;  yet,  if  we  will  think 
of  it,  there  are  few  things  that  can  rightly  be  said  to  be  more  a 
man's  own  than  his  debts  :  they  are  emphatically  ^r£>/ic;- to  him, 
or  his  property,  clinging  to  him,  as  they  do,  like  a  part  of  him- 
self. Again,  that  which  a  man  owns  in  this  sense,  or  owes,  is 
that  which  it  is  proper  for  him,  or  which  he  /tas,  to  perform  or 
to  discharge  (as  the  case  may  be) ;  hence  the  secondary  mean- 
ing of  ojight  as  applied  to  that  which  is  one's  duty,  or  which  is 
fitting."     Craik,  E.  of  S.,  p.  134. 

337-  fli^yn  </c/>'/=  perfect  physical  enjoyment. 

339.  a)id  that,  emphatic  conjunction, — that  particularizing 
and  thus  emphasizing  the  added  notion  ;  cf.  Lat.  ciimque.  See 
note,  1.  43. 

340.  Seynt  Julian  "  was  eminent  for  providing  his  votaries 
with  good  lodgings  and  accommodations  of  all  sorts.  In  the 
title  of  his  Legende,  he  is  called  'St.  Julian  the  gode  herberjour' 
(entertainer)."     T. 

341.  rt/zf«y  r7/?t';' 0(?«  =  always  the  same ;  i.e.,  that  is  always 
equally  good. 

342.  e«7{y««;(5?=  stored  with  wine.  Vine  is  from  the  French, 
and  wine  from  the  A.S.  It  is  instructive  that  all  the  words  which 
denote  the  culture  of  the  vine  ai-e  of  French,  while  words  refer- 
ring to  the  product  are  of  A.S.  origin. 

343.  Scan  :  Without  |  e  bake  |  mete  was  |  never'  |  his  hous. 
Bake^=baken^=\)A\i.it<\.     The  p.p.  ending  in  n  dropped. 

345.  Hit^'it,  —  the  old  form  of  the  neuter  pronoun. 
Stiewede,  pr.  of  snee,  Prov.  Eng.,  to  abound.     This  is  usually 

explained  as  a  pret.  of  sno-M. 

mete  and  drynke,  gen.  of  means. 

346.  dcyntees,  toothsome  rarities,  delicacies.    W.  daint,  a  tooth. 

347.  yl/?(';-=  according  to.  "Comfort  us  again  now  after 
[in  proportion  to]  the  time  that  thou  hast  plagued  us."  Ps.  xc. 
15,  Prayer-Book. 

348.  mete  —  soper.  Mete  refers  to  food  in  general.  Safer  to 
delicacies  or  dessert. 

350.  brem. 

"  Lazy  as  the  bream 
Whose  only  business  is  to  head-up  the  stream, 
(We  call  'em  punkin-seed  ."     Lowell. 
stevue,  a  small  pond  in  which  fish  wei-e  kept  for  the  table. 

351.  Woo  -was  his  cook^  wo  was  it  to  his  cook,  &c.     "  Woe  is 


NOTES    TO    THE   PROLOGUE.  1 39 

me."  Is.  vi.  5.  H/s  cook  must  here  be  construed  in  the  dative, 
after  an  interjection.  "  Wa  tham  men."  Wo  to  the  man.  Matt, 
xviii.  7;  cf.  Lat.  vac  victis.  See  March,  A.S.  Gr.,  §  298  {b). 
Morris  explains,  erroneously,  as  it  seems  to  me,  "sad  was  his 
cook."  This  explanation  is  faulty,  as  it  describes  the  cook, 
while  the  other  keeps  before  us  the  angry  Frankeleyn. 

but  //'=if-not;  if  being  the  true  conjunction,  the  but  used  to 
negative  the  whole  sentence. 

sauce.  The  Frankeleyn,  being  a  high  liver,  would  be  fond 
of  a  highly  seasoned  sauce.  This  item  became  so  expensive 
that,  in  the  time  of  Edward  III.,  a  statute  was  passed  prohibit- 
ing (^intcr  alia)  the  use  of  sauce  unless  it  could  be  procured  at  a 
moderate  cost. 

353.  table  dormant.  "Previous  to  the  fourteenth  century  a 
pair  of  common  wooden  trestles  and  a  rough  plank  was  deemed 
a  table  sufficient  for  the  great  hall.  .  .  .  Tables  with  a  board 
attached  to  a  frame  were  introduced  about  the  time  of  Chaucer, 
and  from  remaining  in  the  hall  were  regarded  as  indications  of  a 
ready  hospitality."     Our  Eng.  Home,  quoted  by  Morris. 

table  is  the  Lat.  tabula,  a  board;  board  is  the  A.S.  word 
(meaning  an  edge,  a  border),  which  is  still  in  use  to  denote 
rather  the  uses  of  the  article  than  the  article  itself;  e.g.,  "board 
and  lodging,"  "  bed  and  board,"  "  a  hospitable  board."  The  use 
of  the  word  derived  from  the  French  to  designate  the  article  of 
furniture  indicates  the  origin  of  the  table. 

354.  covered ;  i.e.,  set  with  food. 

355.  sessiouns ;  i.e.,  of  the  court.  "The  freeholders  of  the 
county  are  the  real  judges  in  this  [county]  court,  and  the  sheriff 
is  the  ministerial  officer.  ...  In  those  times  [Edward  the 
Elder]  the  county  court  was  a  court  of  great  dignity  and  splen- 
dour, the  bishop  and  the  earldorman  (or  earl)  with  the  principal 
men  of  the  shire  sitting  therein  to  administer  justice."  Black- 
stone,  iii.  36. 

356.  knight  of  the  schire  =  a  representative  of  a  county  in  Par- 
liament. "The  knights  of  the  shire  shall  be  chosen  of  people 
whereof  every  man  shall  have  freehold  to  the  value  of  forty  shil- 
lings by  the  year  within  the  county.  .  .  .  The  knights  of  shires 
are  the  representatives  of  the  landholders  or  landed  interest  of 
the  kingdom."     Blackstone,  i.  172. 

"  S/iire  is  a  district  in  England  as  it  is  separated  from  the  rest; 
a  skare  is  a  portion  of  any  thing  thus  divided  off;  shears  are  in- 


140  NOTES    TO    THE   TROLOUUE. 

struinents  effecting  this  process  of  separation ;  tlie  s/wrc  is  the 
place  where  the  continuity  of  land  is  interrupted  or  separated  by 
the  sea  [better  perhaps  shore  relers  to  the  sharing  off  or  sloping 
of  the  bank;  a  common  provincial  name  for  a  gutter  is  a  sliorc\  ; 
a  shred  is  that  which  is  sheared  or  shorn  from  tlie  main  piece; 
a  sherd,  —  as  a  potsherd  (also  pot-share,  Spenser),  --  that  which 
is  broken  off  and  thus  divided  from  the  vessel."  Trench  on 
Words,  21S.     Cf.  also  short,  skiri,  shirt. 

359.  5c^/;';'t'<ye  =  sheriff,  i.e.,  reeve  of  the  shire  or  county. 
A.S.  gerefa,  Ger.  Graf.  "  He  [the  sheriff]  is  the  first  man  in 
the  county,  and  superior  in  rank  to  any  nobleman  therein  dur- 
ing his  office."     Blackstone,  i.  343. 

countour^=iM.dJ\tov,  —  one  appointed  to  manage  the  fiscal 
concerns  of  the  county.  The  former  office  indicates  his  popu- 
larity, this  his  reputation  for  honesty. 

361.  Haberdasshcr.  "  Haberdashers  were  of  two  kinds,  — 
haberdashers  of  small  wares,  sellers  of  needles,  tapes,  buttons, 
&c.,  and  haberdashers  of  hats.  The  first  of  these  would  be  well 
explained  from  O.N.  hapurtask,  trumpery,  things  of  trifling 
value.  .  .  .  The  haberdasher  of  hats  seems  named  from  some 
kind  of  stuff  called  hapertas,  of  which  probably  hats  were  made." 
Wedgwood. 

Carpe7iter^3.  worker  in  wood.  This  word  is  from  the  Latin, 
through  the  French.  Lat.  carpcutarius  from  carpentum,  a  wagon, 
—  literally,  a  wagon-maker,  hence  a  worker  in  wood :  so  we 
have  house-carpenter,  ship-carpenter,  &c. 

362.  Webbe^^  weaver  (masculine);  zvcbstcr  would  be  the 
feminine :  there  is,  however,  a  confusion  in  the  use  of  the  termi- 
nations,—  either  word  being  used  to  denote  either  sex. 

363.  lyvere^Vw&ry.  Livery  denotes  what  was  delivered  hy 
the  lord  to  his  subordinates,  whether  it  were  money,  food,  or 
clothing.  As  regards  clothing,  it  hence  easily  came  to  denote 
external  marks  of  distinction,  whether  of  servants,  officers,  or 
tradesmen.  As  regards  food,  it  came  to  denote  an  allowance  of 
food  for  horses,  and  thus  a  place  where  horses  were  kept.  The 
accent  shows  the  word  to  be  still  considered  as  French. 

Scan :  Weren  with  |  us  eek  |  clothed  in  |  00  lyv  |  er6. 

364.  fraternite  ^  guild.  Each  trade  had  its  guild  (Dan.  gilda, 
feast,  see  note,  1.  370)  supported  by  a  tax  levied  upon  the  mem- 
bers. These  guilds  were  incorporated  by  the  government  and 
exercised  great  influence.     These  mechanics  were  masters. 


NOTER    TO   THE  PIWLOGUE.  14 1 

365.  nf>iAc(l  =kept  very  neat.  The  word  probably-  denotes 
Uiat  nicely  of  cleansing  itidicated  bj  fkkiug  olT  particles  with 
the  fingers.     "  Too  \x\\.\ii\\  pickcdncss  is  not  manly."     B.  Jonson. 

366.  knyfcs.  As  the  gentleman  had  a  dagger  (1.  357)  the 
master-mechanics  wore  knives. 

i-chapcd  =  fitted  with  silver  hooks  to  the  scabbard.    The  noun 
lape  is  used  by  Shakspeare. 

367.  silver.  The  fact  that  the  scabbards,  &c  ,  worn  by  these 
mechanics  were  trimmed  with  siher,  indicates  that  they  were  of 
a  superior  estate. 

Wrought  fill  c/f«c  =  wrought  very  delicately;  of  fine  work- 
manship. 

368.  pouches.  The  French  form  {pocke)  of  an  A.S.  word 
pocca,  which  we  still  use  as  poke ;  cf.  '*  Buy  a  pig  in  a  poke,'' 
i.e.,  pocket.  Pocket  is  a  French  diminutive  of  poke.  The  verb 
poach  is  from  the  French  form;  e.g.,  "  to  poach  eggs"  =  to  cook 
them  in  a  small  dish  like  a  pocket;  to  poach,  i.e.,  to  rob  game  = 
to  put  it  in  a  pocket.  The  verb  to  poke,  and  the  noun  poke,  de- 
noting a  contrivance  worn  by  animals  to  prevent  their  breaking 
out  of  an  enclosure,  is  from  another  root,  allied  to  Lat.  pungere, 
to  prick. 

370.  yeldehalle  =  ix  Guild-hall.  "The  primary  meaning  [of 
guild]  is  a  feast,  then  the  company  assembled;  and  the  same 
transference  of  signification  will  be  observed  in  the  word  com- 
pany itself,  which,  signifying  in  the  first  instance  a  number  of 
persons  eating  together,  has  come  to  be  applied  to  an  association 
for  any  purpose."     Wedgwood. 

(fc)'5  =  dais.  Dais  denotes  first  a  canopy  placed  over  the  heads 
of  persons  of  distinction,  then  the  raised  platform  at  the  end  of 
the  hall  upon  which  sat  persons  of  distinction.  As  the  table 
was  usually  placed  upon  this  platform,  the  term  dais  soon  came 
to  designate  it;  and,  finally,  the  word  included  in  its  significa- 
tion all  the  ornaments  of  such  platform  ;   as,  hangings,  &c. 

371.  Mverych  =^es.c\\  of  them.  Every  is  now  used  only  as  an 
adjective. 

that  he  can  =  that  he  knows,  —  is  master  of. 

372.  schaply  =  ?it.     From   the  verb  to  shape,  hence  adapted. 

373.  crt^e/=  property.  "Our  English  word  cattle  is  derived 
from  the  Low  Latin  catalla,  a  word  of  unknown  etymology,  sig- 
nifying movable  property  generally,  or  what  the  English  law 
calls  chattels."     Marsh,  Lect.  E.L.,  246.     The  origin  of  the  word 


142  NOTES    TO   THE  PROLOGUE. 

is  undoubtedly  'L:^t- capitalc,  the  principal  sum  in  a  loan,  as  dis- 
tinguished frona  the  interest,  and  hence  denoting  movable  prop- 
erty.    See  note,  1.  317;   see  also  1.  540. 

inoHgk  =  enou.g\i.  Goth  ganohs,  in  which  ga  is  the  intensive 
particle,  which  leaves  iiauh  (Ger.  tioch)  still,  yet,  as  the  original 
word,  if  this  be  not  an  emphatic  form  of  na  {tialtan,  to  sufiice)  ; 
cf.  Gr.  vaL(^  —  upw  vaXov  uyyea,  the  pails  were  filled  with  curd.  Od. 
ix.  222. 

?'c«/c=  income  from  business  or  investments.  See  note,  1. 
256.  They  had  property  enough  to  entitle  them  to  hold  the 
office  of  alderman. 

374.  li,  dative  =  to  it. 

375.  wcre^weren,  dissyllable.  Wright  reads  "  hadde  thei 
ben  to  blame." 

to  dlamc,  blamable.  This  phrase  seems  to  preserve  the  force  of 
the  old  gerund ;  or  it  may  be  explained,  with  less  reason,  by  the 
identity  of  meaning  of  to  and  «//  thus,  to  blame  =  at  blame,  at 
fault.     But  it  is  decidedly  better  to  treat  it  as  a  gerund. 

376.  )'/g//t  fair  =  exceedingly  pleasant. 

madainc,  the  title  used  in  addressing  the  wife  of  one  who  was 
entitled  to  be  called  Sir. 

377.  And  for  to  gon.  In  this  line  I  have  followed  Tyrwhitt's 
reading,  with  which  Wright's  substantially  agrees.  Morris  omits 
"  for  to." 

■z;/^//(?5=  vigils  :  a  religious  service  held  on  the  evening  pre- 
ceding an  ecclesiastical  holiday.  Speght  says  :  "  It  was  the  man- 
ner in  times  past  upon  festival  evens,  called  vigils,  for  parishioners 
to  meet  in  their  church  houses  or  church-yards,  and  there  to  have 
a  drinking  fit  for  the  time.  Hither  came  the  wives  in  comely 
manner,  and  they  that  were  of  the  better  sort  had  their  mantles 
carried  with  them,  as  well  as  for  show  as  to  keep  them  from  cold 
at  table." 

al  byfore  =  wholly  before,  before  all ;   in  token  of  rank. 

378.  riallyche  I'-dore  ^=horne  royally,  —  in  regal  style.  Royal 
and  regal  are  the  same  word,  — the  ^  being  softened  to  y.  Re- 
gal comes  directly  from  the  Latin  regalis,  while  royal  is  the 
same  derived  through  the  French.  The  difference  in  meaning 
between  these  two  words  illustrates  the  use  we  have  made  of  our 
mixed  vocabulary.  At  present,  use  constantly  narrows  the 
limits  of  a  word,  as  language  requires  greater  definiteness; 
while   in   the  early  stages  of  a  language    the   tendency   seems 


NOTKH    TO    Till':    TL'ULOGUE.  143 

to   be    to    cnlarije    ratlicr    than    to    restrict    the    signification    of 
words. 

379.  for  the  )io7ics  =  for  tlie  nonce;  for  the  occasion.  In  this 
instance,  tlie  sign  of  infection  71  has  escaped  destruction  by  hid- 
ing in  the  following  word.  The  proper  division  of  the  words 
would  be  '•  for  then  once,"  O.E.  for  than  anes.  Then  {than)  is 
for  A.S.  thdin  dative.  In  the  following  lines  from  Spenser, 
F.  Q^  vii.  §  14,  the  force  o{  once  is  retained  :  — 

'•Through  all  three  bodies  he  him  strooke  attonce, 
That  all  the  three  attonce  fell  on  the  plaine 
Else  should  he  thrise  have  needed  for  the  nonce, 
Them  to  have  stricken,  and  thrise  to  have  slaine." 
So  also  we  have  atte  tiale  for  at  then  ale  ^  at  the  ale      P.  P.,  vi. 
117.     Atten   ende   was    also    corrupted    into   at   the   ncndc ;  C7iy$ 
kynnes  into  cny  skvums.     The    same    tendency  may   be    seen    in 
alone,  atone,  in  which  the  idea  oi  one  is  wholly  lost- 

380.  c^j^«e5  =  chickens.  The  usual  sing,  was  chick,  pi.  chick- 
en, like  ox,  oxen  ;  cow,  kine  :  but  we  have  taken  the  plural  as  a 
singular,  and  brought  the  word  into  the  regular  declension  form- 
ing the  plural  in  5. 

382.  Londone  ale,  ale  of  the  best  quality. 

383.  roste,  sethe,  broillc,  frie.  Of  these  words  sethe  and  roste 
are  Saxon  ;  broillc  and  frie  are  French.  The  names,  of  course, 
indicate  the  origin  of  the  methods  of  cooking.  These  verbs  are 
infinitives  depending  upon  cozude,  as  is  shown  by  maken  in  the 
next  line. 

384.  ?«(7;-/;-^«.v  =  mortrewes.  Lord  Bacon  mentions  "a  mor- 
tress  made  with  the  braun  of  capons  stamped  and  strained." 
The  final  e  is  not  silent  in  bake,  which  is  an  inf. 

38s-  it  thougkte  jnc^=\t  seemed  to  me,  methought.  There 
were  two  forms  of  this  verb  in  A.S.  :  thincan,  the  intransitive  = 
to  seem ;  and  thencan,  the  transitive  =  to  think.  The  intran- 
sitive verb  has  become  obsolete  except  in  the  expressions  me- 
thinks,  methought,  in  which  case  me  is  dative  after  the  impersonal, 
as  also  xsyoii  in  "  if  you  please."  "  The  mone  thingth  the  more 
for  heo  so  ney  ous  is."     Pop.,  Tr.  on  Sc. 

387.  For  =  a?,  to;  considering.     Lat. /ro. 

Blatikfnatiger  ^  literally,  white  food.  It  seems  to  have  bee» 
a  different  dish  in  Chaucer's  time  from  that  which  is  now  called 
by  the  same  name  :  capon  minced  was  one  of  the  ingredients. 

with  the  beste  =  as  well  as  the  best  (cooks). 


144  NOTES    TO    THE   PROLOGUE. 

T,SS.  far  by  tvesic  =iinr  to  the  west  (of  London).  By  (primi- 
tive meaning  near)  has  sometimes  the  force  of  nearly,  or  toxvards. 
not  implying  accurate  direction;  cf.  "west  by  north  "  =  west 
towards  the  north. 

389.  ought,  usually  spelled  anghf. 
Der/cmoui/i  =  Dartn^outh  (at  the  mouth  of  the  river  Dart),  a 
seaport  in  Devonshire,  on  the  south-west  coast  of  England. 

390  as  he  couthc  =  as  best  he  might.  A  seaman  does  not  ap- 
pear well  on  horseback.  As  ^  according  as.  For  this  use,  see 
Abbott,  Shak.  Gr.,  §  109. 

391.  goxvne  =  gown,  a  blouse.  To  be  pronounced  go-unc, 
giving  to  the  iv  a  vowel  sound.  See  Abbott's  Shak.  Gr.,  §§  477- 
4S9 

392.  laas==  a  belt,  which  passed  over  one  shoulder  and  under 
the  opposite  arm. 

394.  T/ie  hootc  somer^  the  hot  summer.  As  the  time  of  the 
pilgrimage  was  in  the  spring,  this  must  refer  to  a  previous 
year.  Wright  says  the  summer  of  1351  was  long  known  as  the 
hot  dry  summer. 

395.  ye/rt-t'P  ^  companion  ;  "a  partner  in  goods;  from  yi?, 
money,  goods,  and  lag,  order,  society,  community. 

'  Here  now  make  y  the 
Myn  owne  feloiv  in  al  wise 

Of  worldly  good  and  merchandise.'  Lydgate." 
Wedgwood.  Tiiis  word  retains  its  original  force  in  all  com- 
pounds, as  fellow-suflerers  ;  but  when  used  alone  it  conveys  some- 
thing of  contempt,  —  perhaps  as  a  natural  outgrowth  of  intimacy- 
"The  notion  originally  involved  in  companionship  would  ap- 
pear to  have  been  rather  that  of  inferiority  than  of  equality." 
Craik's  E.  of  Sh.,  345.  In  O.E.  companion  was  used  in  this  saine 
contemptuous  sense. 

396  "Very  many  a  draught  of  wine  had  he  drawn  (stolen 
away,  or  carried  off)  from  Bordeaux  (cask  and  all)  while  the 
chapman  (merchant  or  supercargo  to  whom  the  wine  belonged) 
was  asleep,  for  he  paid  no  regard  to  any  conscientious  scruples." 
M.  Perhaps,  however,  better  explained  as  alluding  to  a  trick 
even  yet  in  vogue,  of  drawing  off  a  certain  quantity  from  casks 
of  wine  or  other  spirits  while  on  transit,  and  refilling  them  with 
water. 

397.  From  Bordcaux-rvard  =  on  the  trip  from  Bordeaux. 

39S.  nycc  =  soft  (foolish).     Our  word  m'ce  seems  to  be  used  as 


NOTES    TO   THE  PROLOGUE.  145 

though  two  distinct  words  had  coalesced,  —  one  derived  from  the 
Latin  iicsciics,  ignorant;  and  the  other  from  the  A.S  /itiesc,  O.E. 
ttcsh,  tender,  delicate;  and  the  meaning  of  the  word  varies  be- 
tween these  two  significations.  The  original  is  probably,  how- 
ever, the  Anglo-Saxon  form.  We  speak  of  a  nice  sense  of  honor, 
a  nice  discrimination  The  blending  of  the  notions  of  folly  and 
goodness  is  a  little  remarkable,  but  not  without  its  analogies ;  cf 
s///k,  Ger.  5e/i]^  =  blessed  :  cf.  also,  "Alia  was  not  so  nice"  — 
foolish.  C.  T.  5508;  to  make  it  nice  =  to  play  the  fool.  Fr.  7iiais. 
took  he  no  keep  =  he  took  no  care  of,  —  paid  no  attention  to. 
From  the  fact  that  a  man  cares  for  what  he  possesses,  the  word 
has  passed  from  the  idea  of  care  to  that  of  possession. 

399.  If  that  =  if  so  be  that;  if  it  happened  that.  See  note,  1. 
144. 

faughfe  ;  i.e.,  with  pirates. 

400.  By  ivatcy  he  sente  hem  hooin ;  i.e.,  he  cast  them  into  the 
sea,  from  which  they  could  find  their  way  to  every  land. 

hooni,  ace.  of  place  where  motion  ends;  used  adverbially. 
Scan  :  By  water  |  he  sente  |  &c. 

401.  Bui  (adversative)  notwithstanding  these  moral  delin- 
quencies. 

of=\n  regard  to;  cf.  Shakspcare's  "a  valiant  man  of  his 
hands."  We  still  use  this  idiom,  —  attributive  gen.,  —  as,  "swift 
of  foot." 

craft  =:  calling.  "  The  origin  is  seen  in  the  notion  of  seizing, 
expressed  by  the  Italian  graffiayc.  The  term  is  then  applied  to 
seizing  with  the  mind."     Wedgwood. 

to  rehne  xuel  his  tydes  =  to  calculate  accurately  the  time  of 
the  tides.  We  would  say  the  instead  oi  his ;  his  restricts  the 
meaning  to  cases  particularly  affecting  the  mariner,  while  the 
would  be  general  in  its  application. 

403.  ;«tf«c=moon;  as  influencing  the  tides,  as  well  as  giving 
light. 

lodcmctiagc^=i^\\o\.^^Q,  —  a  compound  of  A.S.  and  French. 

404.  Hulle  =  Hull,  a  seaport  on  the  north-east  of  England. 
•'  Hull — well  knowen  bie  reason  of  the  assemblie  marte  of  biers 
and  sellers."     Pol.  Virgil,  i.  5. 

Cartage.  Probably  Carthagena  in  Spain ;  but  possibly  Car- 
thage. 

406.  te7nf est  =  atovm.  The  Lat.  temfns  means:  (i)  a  portion 
of  any  thing;    (2)  a  portion  of  time;    (3)  a  portion  of  a  year,  a 


146  NOTES    TO   THE  PROLOGUE. 

season  ;  (4)  a  time  distinguished  by  favorable  or  unfavorable 
circumstances,  —  opportunity  or  danger,  —  hence  the  periods  to 
be  remembered  by  seamen,  as  times  of  storm  ;  and  (5)  the  storm 
itself 

407.  as  thei  ■were  =  where  (and  what)  they  were. 

Cf.   "  Here  as  I  point  my  sword  the  sun  arises." 

J.  C,  ii.  I,  106. 

40S.    Gootlo!id=  Gothland.      Others  read  Scotland. 

411.  Phisik.  From  a  Greek  word  signifying  that  which  is 
natural  :  in  this  sense  we  use  the  Latin  form  of  the  word  phys- 
ical. As  applied  to  science,  it  denotes  a  knowledge  of  the 
material  world,  and  hence  of  the  human  system,  especially  its 
diseases  and  their  remedies. 

412.  ne  -was  ther  non  him  lyk  ^  there  was  none  equal  to  him. 
Hitn  is  dative.  In  A.S.  (as  still  in  English)  words  denoting 
nearness  and  likeness  are  followed  by  the  dative. 

413.  To  speke  of=  speaking  of;  that  is  to  say,  in  regard  to 
physic,  &c. 

414.  astronomye  =  astrology.  The  ancient  notion,  that  the 
sign  in  which  the  sun  and  other  heavenly  bodies  happened  to 
be  had  a  peculiar  influence  upon  the  human  body,  has  furnished 
the  language  with  many  words ;  such  as,  disaster,  injluc7ice, 
jovial,  i&c.  Trench  says  that  "  whenever  the  word  injiuence 
occurs  in  our  English  poetry,  down  to  a  comparatively  modern 
date,  there  is  always  more  or  less  remote  allusion  to  invisible 
illapses,  skyey,  planetary  eflfects,  supposed  to  be  exercised  by  the 
heavenly  luminaries  upon  the  lives  of  men."  Eng.  Past  and 
Pres.,  240.  The  same  thing  may  be  familiarly  illustrated  by  the 
retention  of  the  anatomical  diagram  and  the  column  for  the 
moon's  place  still  retained  in  most  almanacs. 

416.  kepte  =  watched,  took  care  of 

417.  houres.  "The  houres  are  the  astrological  hours.  He 
carefully  watched  for  a  favorable  star  in  the  ascendant.  A  great 
portion  of  the  medical  science  of  the  Middle  Ages  depended  upon 
astrological  and  other  superstitious  observances."     Wright. 

Magic  Naturel.  These  practices  are  alluded  to  in  the  "  House 
of  Fame,"  iii.  175  :  — 

"And  clerkes  eke,  which  konne  wel, 
Alle  this  magike  naturel, 
That  craftely  doon  her  ententes 
To  maken  in  certeyn  ascendentes 


NOTI^JS    TO    THE   ritOLOOUK.  147 

Images,  lo !  thrugh  which  magike 
To  maken  a  man  ben  hool  or  sike." 
418.  ymaffes.     See  previous  quotation. 

420.  hooi,  &c.,  the  four  humors.  Of  denotes  the  gen.  of 
.source. 

423.  i-k-jioive  =  known.  The  prefix  ^c  had  in  A.S  an  inten- 
sive force,  which  may  have  caused  its  retention  in  certain 
expressions. 

His  harm  ==  his  malady  ;  usually  denotes  a  contagious  disease. 

424.  Anon  =  in  one  (instant)  ^=  immediately'. 

"  But  ever  in  oon  y-Iike  sad  and  kynde." 

C.  T.,8478. 
^00/e  =  reinedy.  From  this  sense  it  gradually  passes  to  the 
idea  of  compensation,  —  making  good  a  loss,  —  as  man-bot  ^=  the 
penalty  for  killing  a  man.  We  retain  this  force  in  the  colloquial 
expression /(?  (^00/ ;  i.e.,  to  compensate  for  the  difference  between 
two  things  to  be  exchanged. 

426.  dragges  =  drugs.  The  original  idea  of  drugs  seems  to 
have  been  something  powdered.  The  O.  Fr.  is  dragee,  which 
had  the  meaning  condiments  or  spices  ;  but  I  think  it  more  likely 
that  this  was  a  secondary  meaning.  Pepys  in  his  Diarj',  Feb.  3, 
1665-6,  says,  "  did  carry  home  a  silver  drudgcr  for  my  cupboard 
of  plate."  That  is,  a  box  for  spices.  The  dredger  still  in  use  i" 
our  kitchen  is  a  vessel  with  a  perforated  cover  to  scatter  condi- 
ments upon  articles  of  food. 

427.  other ;  we  say  the  other. 

428.  Here,  gen.  pi.,  of  them,  their.     A.S.  hcora 

429.  Esciclapius,  the  Greek  patron  of  medicine. 

430-434.  The  persons  here  mentioned  were  the  medica* 
authorities  of  the  Middle  Ages.  Rufus  was  a  Greek  physician 
of  Ephesus ;  Haly,  Serapion,  and  Avicen  were  Arabian  physi- 
cians and  astronomers;  Rhasis  was  a  Spanish  Aral);  Averroes- 
a  Moor;  Damascen,  an  Arabian;  Constant\n,  a  native  of  Cai-- 
thage  :  all  these  flourished  from  the  ninth  to  the  eleventh  cen- 
turies. Bernard  Gordonius,  professor  of  medicine  at  Montpellier, 
lived  about  the  time  of  Chaucer;  Gatesden  was  a  physician  of 
Oxford,  in  the  early  part  of  the  fourteenth  century;  Gilbert^n  is 
supposed  by  Warton  to  be  the  celebrated  Gilbertus  Angliciis. 
Condensed  from  Wright's  note. 

436.   of  no  SHpcrJiuite.     This  must  be  construed  as  a  genitive 


14^  NOTES    TO    THE   PROLOGUE. 

limiting   a   noun ;    the   A.S.    attributive   gen.    denoting  quality. 
Cf.   "  a  man  of  means." 

437-  digestible.  Accent  third  syllable  as  in  French.  The  use 
of  this  adjective  indicates  the  qualitative  force  of  the  preceding 
phrases  with  of. 

438.  This  line  affords  a  good  illustration  of  the  manner  in 
which  Chaucer  paints  a  character  with  a  single  stroke. 

439.  sa?ig'tvi?i  and  t7i  ^ers,  cloth  of  deep  red  and  bright  blue 
colors. 

440.  taffeta  =  a  fine  smooth  stuff  of  silk  with  a  wavy  lustre. 
sendal^  a  kind  of  thin  rich  silk. 

"  His  stede  with  sandellc  of  Frise  was  trapput  to  the  hele." 

Anturs  of  Arthur,  xxx.  9. 
"There  was  mony  gonfanoun  [banner] 
Of  gold  scudcl  and  siclatoun." 

Alexander,  1963. 
The  names  of  the  cloths  mentioned  are  French. 

441.  but  esy  of  dispence  =^  hut  moderate  in  his  expenses. 

442.  ill  Pestile?ice ;  alluding  to  the  great  pestilence  of  1348-9, 
in  which,  of  course,  his  services  were  in  great  demand. 

443.  gold  ill  Phisik.  Erastus,  combating  the  prevailing 
notion,  says,  "  that  gold  makes  the  heart  merry,  but  in  no  other 
sense  but  as  it  is  in  a  miser's  chest."  Burton,  Anat.  Mel.,  P.  2, 
Sec.  4.     Mem.  i.  Subs.  4. 

444.  Thcrfore^iox  this  reason:  thcr  refers  to  the  previous 
statement,  probably  to  be  explained  by  the  remark  of  Erastus 
quoted  above. 

in  special  =  especially. 

445.  of  byside  Bathe  =  from  a  place  near  Bath. 

446.  skathe  =  misfortune.  We  still  use  the  verb  to  scathe, 
and  the  adj.  scatheless.  The  noun  is  used  by  Spenser  and  Shak- 
speare.  In  like  manner  we  have  lost  the  noun  ruth,  but  we  retain 
the  adj.  ruthless.     Cf.  Ger.  Schade. 

447.  cloth-making.  "The  west  of  England,  and  especially 
the  neighborhood  of  Bath,  was  for  a  long  time  celebrated  for  its 
cloth.  Ypres  and  Ghent  were  the  great  clothing  marts  of  the 
continent."     From  Wright. 

she.     Observe  change  in  orthography. 

449.  parisshe  ^=  parish.  Parish  is  from  the  French  paroisse, 
from  the  Greek  ■napo'iKia,  dwelling  near.     Parishioners  are  liter- 


NOTES    TO    THE    PROLOGUE.  1 49 

ally  persons  dwelling  near  each  other.  We  preserve  the  Greek 
form  \\\  parochial. 

450.  to  the  offryiig.  "An  allusion  to  the  offering  on  Relic 
Sunday,  when  the  congregation  went  up  to  the  altar  in  succes- 
sion to  kiss  the  relics."     M. 

Schiildc  =  ought  =  had  a  right  to  go.  Schulde  is  here  used 
in  its  original  sense  of  propriety  or  moral  obligation. 

453.  kcvcrche_fs^=y.Q.rch\ek.  Literally,  coverings  for  the  head. 
Onr  handkerchief  is  therefore  an  incongruous  word. 

groimde  =^  warp,  foundation;  i.e.,  not  of  a  cheap  material  in 
the  warp,  covered  with  a  more  costly.  Grund  is  used  similarly 
in  German.     Morris  explains  "of  a  fine  texture." 

ten  foimde.,  probabjy  with  the  ornaments  added. 

457.  Fid  streyt  yteyd,  very  closely  tied. 
schoos  fill  moyste,  soft,  supple;  cf.  1.  203. 

458.  1-eed  of  heive  =  of  ruddy  complexion. 

459.  7vorthy^o?  high  social  position,  with  no  reference  to 
moral  character.  So  worship  (worthship)  originally  signified 
honor. 

460.  Houscboudes  =  husbands.  A.S.  hiisbanda,  from  hus,  house, 
and  banda,  one  dwelling  in  {btiaii),  with  the  idea  of  ownership, 
thus  ^  house-master.  By  an  easy  transition,  the  word  came  to 
signify  a  married  man.  The  same  word  appears  in  husbandry^ 
where  the  original  force  is  preserved,  —  that  of  dwelling  upon 
the  land  for  the  purpose  of  cultivating  it.  The  word  boor  is 
from  the  root  buan.,  and  means  one  occupying  the  land.  The 
common  derivation  from  house  and  bond  is  untenable. 

ut  chirche  dore.  The  priest  married  the  couple  at  the  church 
porch. 

Hadde  =  had  had,  plupf. 

461.  Withouten  =  hesidesi;  without  taking  into  account. 

462.  needcth  nought  =  there  is  no  need.  The  subject  of  7ieed- 
etJt  is  to  speke. 

463.  It  was  considered  an  act  of  great  merit  to  make  a  pil- 
grimage to  Jerusalem  to  the  Holy  Sepulchre. 

466.  Galice.  The  shrine  of  St.  James  at  Compostella  in  Ga- 
licia,  whither  the  body  of  the  saint  was  said  to  have  been  carried 
by  a  ship  without  a  rudder. 

Coloyue  =  Cologne,  where  the  bones  of  the  three  wise  men 
from  the  East  were  buried- 

467.  coivde  =  knew ;  had  experience  in. 


150  NOTES    TO    THE   FliOLOOUE. 

-wandryng ;  usually  explained  ?ls,  =  zva?ideri)ig',  alluding  to 
the  difficulties  of  making  a  pilgrimage  in  those  days,  before  the 
great  lines  of  travel  were  established  :  but  if  I  might  hazard  a 
conjecture,  it  m^y  ^zvandreinc,  trouble,  suffering;  cf.  zvandreth-, 
sorrow.  But  the  word  may  be  taken  as  =  transgressmi  in  a  moral 
sense.  See  Wi£  of  Bathes,  Prol.  655.  "  Women  that . .  .  wol  go  on  pil- 
grimage more  for  sporte  than  for  deuocion."   Kt.  La  Tour-Landry,  34. 

468.  Gat-tothed,  with  projecting  teeth.  "  Some  men  there  be  that 
put  them  [the  lips]  far  out,  by  reason  that  they  are  gag-toothed.'" 
Holland's  Plinie,  I.  336,  L. 

sothly  for  to  seye  =  to  speak  truly,  to  tell  the  truth. 

472.  foot-mantel  =  "  a  sort  of  riding-petticoat,  such  as  is  now 
used  by  market  women."     T. 

474.  felavjschipe  =  company.     See  notes,  11.  26,  395. 

475.  Of  remedyes  .  .  .  sc/ie  knezv  =  she  knew  [the  virtues]  of 
the  remedies  for  love  A  partitive  genitive.  Knorv  is  followed 
by  the  ace.  or  gen.  :  by  the  ace.  when  the  action  of  the  verb  is 
expressed  without  restriction ;  by  the  gen.  when  the  verb  is  lim- 
ited to  a  part  of  the  object.  She  kncrv  the  remedies  would  assert 
that  she  understood  the  nature  and  composition  of  the  remedies; 
she  knevj  of  the  remedies  means  she  knew  what  were  remedies  for 
love;  cf.  "  I  know  the  man"  and  "I  know  of  the  man."  The 
verb  with  <?/ appears  to  be  equivalent  to  the  verb  and  a  substan- 
tive; i.e.  =  to  have  knowledge  of. 

parchautice  =  by  experience.  She  was  not  a  professional,  but 
had  gained  her  knowledge  by  experience,  as  she  herself  says  in 
her  Prologue,  11.  i,  2. 

"  Experience,  though  non  auctoritee 
Were  in  this  world,  is  right  ynough  for  me." 

476.  art  refers  to  Ovid's  Art  of  Love,  as  remedye  refers  to  his 
Remedy  of  Love,  — two  standard  works  upon  the  subject. 

couthe  =  was  master  of. 

the  olde  dautice.  "To  know  the  old  dance"  is  a  proverb 
meaning  to  know  the  old  custams. 

477.  of  religioun  =  of  a  religious  order,  —  in  holy  orders. 

478.  And  -was  =  who  was ;  and  he  was.  The  relative  pro- 
noun, by  virtue  of  the  relation  it  expresses,  serves  as  a  connec- 
tive; in  this  casje  and  connects  the  two  verbs,  and  the  subject  is 
omitted  as  usual  in  such  cases. 

a  foure  Persoun  of  a  toun  =  a  poor  parson  (priest)  of  a  coun- 
try village;  cf.  the  phrase  "  a  country-parson."  Persoun  is  from 
the  Latin  personare,  to  sound  or  speak  through,  and  originally 


NOTES    TO    THE   PROLOGUE.  151 

designated:  (i)  a  mask  worn  by  actors  on  the  Roman  stage,  so 
constructed  as  to  increase  their  power  of  voice.  As  tlie  use  of 
these  masks  enabled  the  same  actor  to  plaj'  {pcrso?iaie')  different 
characters,  ^er50«rt  came  to  mean  (2)  character,  as  in  the  phrases 
personam  induerc,  pcrsotiam  agere.  Tlie  word  in  pure  Latin 
was  never  used  to  designate  an  individual.  This  use  of  the  word 
is  still  retained  in  Dramatis  Personae  =  the  characters  of  the  plav. 
By  a  very  easy  transition  the  word  came  to  mean  :  (3)  a  dis- 
tinguished character;  from  this  we  pass  to  i.^)  parson  (i.e.,  per- 
sona ecclest'ae^,  which  is  an  accommodation  of  the  spelling  of  the 
word  to  the  pronunciation.  Next  we  have  the  common  change 
of  transferring  the  word  from  denoting  attribute  to  denoting  sub- 
stance, and  person  no  longer  signifies  character,  but  (5)  an  in- 
dividual, he  who  bears  the  character.  So  froin  mask  the  word 
has  come  to  mean  man. 

479-  of  holy  tJioHght  and -i.verk.  Gen.  of  plenty.  We  now  say 
rich  in.  The  use  of  the  gen.  is  very  expressive,  as  it  turns  the 
attention  to  the  source  of -the  wealth;  the  dative  (with  iii)  is 
more  subjective,  and  brings  before  the  mind  the  person  and  the 
possessions  by  which  he  is  made  rich. 

481.  W(7/fi?e^rec^e ^wished  to  preach. 

482.  parischens  =  parishioners. 

devoutly  vjoldc  =  he  most  earnestly  (devotedly)  wished  to 
teach. 

485.  such;  i.e.,  benigne,  diligent,  and  pacient.  This  presents 
us  a  vivid  picture  of  his  parish,  wherein  was  such  frequent  oppor- 
tunities for  the  exercise  of  these  virtues. 

486.  Pul  loth  -were  him  =  He  was  extremely  unwilling. 

to  curse  is  the  subject;  loth  is  the  predicate  with  him  in  the 
dative;  -were,  pret.  subj. 

to  curse  =  to  excommunicate.  Curse  is  another  form  of  cross, 
and  means  to  imprecate  the  displeasure  of  God  by  the  sign  of  the 
cross.  He  would  not  excommunicate  those  who  failed  through 
misfortune  to  pay  their  tithes. 

tythes.  The  tithe  or  tenth  was  that  part  of  one's  income  in 
kind  set  apart  for  the  service  of  the  church.  "  And  behold  I 
have  given  the  children  of  Levi  all  the  tenth  in  Israel  for  an 
inheritance."  Num.  xviii.  21.  "Thou  shalt  truly  tithe  all  the 
increase  of  thy  seed  that  the  field  bringeth  forth  year  by  year." 
Deut.  xiv.  22.     Hence  tithe  =  any  small  portion. 


152  NOTES    TO    THE   PROLOGUE. 

4S7.  out  of  doitie  =  wMhout  douhi.  In  A. S.  ?<i'««  governs  the 
genitive. 

489.  OJ  his  offrynge^^oi  his  income  from  contributions;  par- 
titive gen. 

substaunce^Wie.  property  he  had  acquired,  or  the  income  of 
his  benefice. 

490.  litcl  thing ^^\\\X\q,  as  opposed  to  abundance.  Thing 
(A.S.  thincg)  is  properly  that  which  can  be  seen,  any  thing  visi- 
ble;  hence  substance,  that  which  has  weight.  It  is  here  used 
collectively,  and  not  distributively,  as  is  now  the  common  usage. 
Thing  is  referred  by  some  to  ///«;/,  to  do. 

491.  Scan  :  Wyd  was  |  his  parisch  |  and  hous  |  es  fer  |  ason- 
der. 

492.  But  he  ne  lafte  )iot^  he  ceased  not. 
fo>'=^  for  fear  of;  literally,  in  front  of;    zi.  fore. 

reytic  =  rain.  A.S.  regen  ;  thesis  first  softened  to y,  then  to 
/,  and  finally  silent;  cf.  day  from  daeg. 

Scan  :  But  he  |  ne  laft  I  e  not  |  for  reyne  |  ne  thonder. 

494.  moche  and  lite  ^  ^rQs.t  and  small,  —  of  high  rank  and  low. 

495.  Uppon  his  feet  =  on-Coot.  He  was  too  poor  to  keep  a 
horse. 

496.  scheep,  pi.  A  S.  neuters  of  the  first  declension  form  the 
sing,  and  pi.  alike. 

497.  Thatfrste,  &c.  That  is  the  sentence  article  referring  he 
ivroughte  to  ensample.  After  a  general  statement  that  introduces 
a  particular. 

after  that.      That  here  refers  to  he  ivroughte  as  to  a  noun. 

501. /«??// ^  filthy.  A.S.y}//,  Goth.y/cA.  The  primitive  mean- 
ing seems  to  have  been  putrid. 

502.  No  wonder  is,  &c.  =  It  is  no  wonder  that  an  ignorant 
man  should  become  filthy.  To  ruste  is  the  subject  of  is ;  Icxvcd 
man  is  the  ace.  subject  o{  to  ruste ;  wonder  is  the  predicate. 

/(?it'e</^  ignorant,  as  opposed  to  \)c\&  clergy  or  educated  per- 
sons; from  A.S.  leode,  people,  hence  common  people,  and  as  an 
adjectife  denoting  the  manners  of  the  common  people  :  the  same 
idea  may  be  traced  in  villain,  boorish,  heathen.  "  That  leivd, 
which  meant  at  one  time  no  more  than  lay  or  unlearned,  should 
come  to  signify  the  sinful,  the  vicious,  is  not  a  little  worthy  of 
note.  How  forcibly  we  are  reminded  here  of  that  saying  of  the 
Pharisees  of  old,  '  This  people  which  knovveth   not  the   law  is 


NOTES    TO    THE   PROLOGUE.  153 

cursed  ! '  how  much  of"  their  spirit  must  have  been  at  worlc  before 
the  word  could  have  acquired  this  secondary'  meaning!  "  Trench. 
From  its  primitive  meaning,  ignorant.,  it  passed  to  denote  one 
of  the  usual  concomitants  of  ignorance,  vice;  and,  lastly,  this 
general  meaning  was  narrowed  to  express  a  predominant  form 
of  vice.  The  above  use  of  r«.s/y  ;=  filthy  is  not  yet  entirely  ob- 
solete in  colloquial  language. 

503.  it  refers  to  the  proverb  given  in  the  next  line. 

504.  yb«/  to  be  read  as  a  dissyllable.  The  original  word  here 
is  rather  forcible  than  elegant. 

505.  ougJitc.  "The  English  defective  verb  ought  is  the  old 
preterite  of  the  verb  to  otvc,  which  was  at  an  early  period  used  as 
a  sort  of  auxiliary  with  the  infinitive,  implying  the  sense  of  ne- 
cessity, just  as  we,  and  many  of  the  Continental  nations,  now 
employ  /lave  and  its  equivalents.  .  .  .  Afterwards,  by  a  common 
process  in  language,  the  general  idea  of  necessity  involved  in 
this  use  of  the  word  ozve  resolved  itself  into  two  distinct  senses, 
—  the  one  of  pecuniary  or  other  liability  in  the  nature  of  a  debt, 
or  the  return  of  an  equivalent  for  property,  services,  or  favors 
received ;  the  other  that  of  moral  obligation,  or,  at  least  of  ex- 
pediency. Dirterent  forms  from  the  same  root  were  now  appro- 
priated to  the  two  senses;  to  owe  with  a  newly  formed  weak 
preterite,  owed,  being  exclusively  limited  to  the  notion  of  debt, 
and  the  simple  form  ought  being  employed  in  all  moods,  tenses, 
numbers  and  persons,  to  express  moral  obligation."  Marsh. 
Owe  is  from  the  A.S.  agan,  evidently  from  the  same  root  as  the 
Gr.  ixEw.,  to  have;  so  that  the  use  of  the  auxiliary  have,  as  above 
mentioned,  is  based  upon  the  same  conception  as  the  use  of  the 
word  ought.  In  this  passage  the  meaning  inclines  towards 
the  common  signification  of  owe:  a  priest  owes  it  [to  his  pro- 
fession] to  give  example  to  his  flock. 

506.  ho-w  that^'xvi  what  way  it  should  be  that,  —  how.  Hoiv 
is  only  another  form  of  ivhy,  the  instrumental  case  of  ivhat. 
That  is  added  with  an  original  reference  to  the  noun,  implied  by 
the  interrogative;  but  as  the  pronominal  force  of  how  was  lost, 
that  was  nevertheless  retained  with  the  idea  of  securing  greater 
definiteness  by  the  use  of  the  definitive.  The  true  construction 
is  seen  in  siticc  that  —  K.S.  siththan  the,  in  which  case  that  is 
plainly  relative,  after  the  demonstrative  involved  in  since,  sith- 
than.  In  all  such  cases,  it  is  best  to  suppose  an  ellipsis  of  the 
proper  mode  and  tense  oi  to  be. 


154  NOTES    TO    THE   FliOLOGUE. 

507.  He  sette  not,  &c.  He  did  not  let  out  his  parochial  duties 
to  some  poor  curate,  and  go  up  to  London  to  seek  a  more  lucra- 
tive position. 

sct/c,  causative  from  sit,  hence  =to  cause  to  sit,  to  place;  cf. 
also  lecgan  from  licga>i=^\iiy,  lie;  dreucan,  from  drirican^^ 
drench,   drink. 

betiejice,  originally,  a  grant  of  land  to  a  Roman  veteran  ;  an 
ecclesiastical  living  below  that  of  a  bishop. 

to  hyre,  a  gerund;  cf.  to   let,  to  rent. 

508.  lec.t=\et  (pret.)  =  leave.  Lactau  (let)  is  often  to  be 
construed  with  to  be  or  to  go,  understood.  '•  Laet  thaer  thine  lac 
beforan  tham  altare."  Matt.  v.  24.  Leave  there  thy  gift  before 
the  altar. 

509.  seynte  Potiles,  sc.  church,  —  the  metropolitan  cathedral 
church  of  London,  which  the  king  and  nobility  attended.  In 
E.E.  the  diphthong  au  was  sounded  as  in  German,  and  the  word 
Paul  is  here  spelled  as  it  was  pronounced. 

510.  him,  dative  of  advantage. 

chaunterie  for  soiiles  =  an  endowment  for  the  payment  of  a 
priest  for  saying  masses  for  the  soul  of  the  founder.  The  orig- 
inal pronunciation  of  soul  (A.S.  sawel)  is  here  indicated  by  the 
rhyme :  — 

"  Persones  and  parisch  prestes  pleyned  hem  to  the  bischop, 
That  here  parisches  were  pore  sith  the  pestilence  tyme, 
To  haue  a  lycence  and  a  leue  at  London  to  dwelle 
And  syngen  there  for  symonye,  for  siluer  is  swete." 

P.  P.,  Prol.,  85. 
Latimer  (vii.    Sermons)    severely    denounces    the    chatintery 
Priests  of  his  day. 

513.  myscarye^^to  misbehave,  to  carry  one's  self  amiss. 

514.  ;«c;'cc;/rtr/e  =  hireling.  "  But  he  that  is  an  hireling  and 
not  the  shepherd,  whose  own  the  sheep  are  not,  seeth  the  wolf 
coming  and  leaveth  the  sheep  and  fleeth ;  and  the  wolf  catcheth 
them,  and  scattereth  the  sheep."    Jno.  x.  12. 

516.  nought  =  no--whit^=x).o\.  at  all.     Not  is  only  a  contracted 

form. 

(f/5/j'V£>«5=  pitiless,  uncompassionate.  ''Dispitous  is  he  that 
hath  disdain  of  his  neighebour;  that  is  to  sayn,  of  his  even 
cristen."     Persones  Tale. 

517.  fA;;/^e;'£>«5=  difficult  to  gain.  From  the  meaning  of 
penalty,  the  word  passed  "  to  signify  difficulties   about  giving 


NOTES    TO   THE  PROLOGUE.  155 

permission  or  complying  with  a  request,  or  to  absolute  refusal/ 
Wedgwood.     See  note,  line  663. 

518.  disci-rt,  discreet,  —adapting  one's  self  to  circumstances. 
"Rightly  dividing  the  word  of  trutii."     2  Tim.  ii.  15. 

519.  To  draw  people  to  heaven  by  the  beauty  [of  a  godly  ex- 
ample]. 

521.  Biii  ii  wcp'c^  except  it  were  in  the  case  of  an  obstinate 
person.  The  strict  construction  is,  "Except  any  person  were 
obstinate."  //,  however,  refers  to  the  general  idea  of  the  sen- 
tence. So  Isa.,  Ii.  9.  "Art  thou  not  it  that  hath  cut  Rahab.?" 
This  use  of  but  is  A.  S.  "  Butan  hwa  beo  edniwan  gecenned." 
Jno.  iii.  3.     "  But  a  man  be  borun  agen."     Wiclif. 

522.  Whai  so  he  were  =  whosoever  he  might  be.  What  so 
is  used  instead  of  xvho  so,  as  t'i  is  used  in  the  preceding  line  in- 
stead of  he ;  the  reference  being  to  the  idea  in  the  mind  of  the 
writer,  which  is  here  the  character  of  the  man  rather  than  the 
person.  In  all  such  cases,  so  is  a  pronoun  and  not  an  adverb; 
cf.  -whoso  with  Lat.  qnisquis. 

524.  thcr  noivher  7ion  is  =  there  nowhere  is.  iVow  is  the  real 
subject. 

525.  He  ivayicde  after  =  he  looked  for. 

Scan  :  He  wayt  |  ede  aft'r  |  no  pompe  |  and  rev  |  erence. 
Such  contractions  are  common,  especially  with  liquids. 

526.  him  =  for  himself,  dat.  The  direct  object  of  makede  is 
co}iscie?tce. 

spiced  co?iscie9tce^a.  conscience  exceedingly  particular  about 
little  things.  "The  fourthe  rule  is  of  spice  and  of  kynde;  that 
is,  of  part  and  of  al  the  hool  thing,  of  the  whiche  the  part  is." 
Wiclif.  Proleg.  i,  N.  T.  Spice  is  an  abbreviation  o(  species  (Lat. 
species),  a  class  distinguished  by  the  possession  of  particular 
qualities.  So  Chaucer  says  (Persones  Tale),  "  The  spices  of 
penance  ben  three."  A  spiced  conscience  would  then  be  a  con- 
science differing  from  the  usual  conscience  of  men,  and  laying 
great  stress  upon  minor  matters,  while  neglecting  weightier 
matters.  The  adversative  but  with  which  the  next  line  begins 
indicates  the  opposition  between  the  two  ideas  —  "  spiced  con- 
science "  and  following  "  Cristes  lore."  A  spiced  conscience 
would  therefore  be  a  peculiar  (specific)  conscience, — one  de- 
termined by  personal  whim  or  fancy,  and  not  acting  accprding 
to  general  principles.  The  same  expression  occurs  in  the  Wif 
of  Bathe's  Tale  :  — 


156  NOTES    TO    THE   PROLOGUE. 

"Ye  shulden  be  al  patient  and  meke 
And  haue  a  swete  spiced  conscience."     C.  T.,  6017. 
But  here  spiced   seems   to   belong  with   swete, — srvete  sptced=^ 
pleasant,  easy.     Drugs  were  called   spices,  —  not  drugs  in  gen- 
eral, but  specifics  as  we  still  say. 

"  May  no  synne  be  on  him  sene  that  useth  that  spise." 

P.  P.  Prol.,  147. 
The   Italian  word   for  drugs   is  spezierie,  that  which  is  sold   in 
small  quantities,  as  opposed  to  groceries  (gross),  articles  which 
are  sold  in  large  quantities.     With  an  interpretation  drawn  from 
this  meaning,  the  expression  would  be  equivalent  to  a  conscience 
spiritually  drugged,  and  so  acting  unnaturally.    Tyrwhitt  quotes 
from  Beaumont  and  Fletcher  (Mad   Lover,  Act  3)  a  passage  in 
which  spiced  seems,  as  here,  to  signify  nice,  scrupulous :  — 
'•  Fy  !    no  corruption  .  .  • 
Cle.     Take  it;    it  is  yours  : 

Be  not  so  spiced ;   it  is  good  gold ; 

And  goodness  is  no  gall  to  the  conscience." 

527.  /lis  apostles,  gen.,  in  same  construction  with  Cristes. 
Such  an  arrangement  would  be  perfectly  clear  in  an  inflected 
language,  but  is  not  allowable  in  modern  English. 

528.  himselve  =  by  himself,  dative.  "  Himself  is  often  an 
abridgment  of  a  prepositional  expression  used  as  an  adverb :  he 
did  it  by  himself,  of  himself  for  himself;  and  being  a  quasi- 
adverb  does  not  receive  the  adjectival  inflection.  It  follows  that 
my,  thy,  in  myself,  and  thyself  are  not  pronominal  adjectives, 
but  represent  inflected  cases  of  the  pronouns."  Abbott,  Shak. 
Gr.  §  20.  We  may  explain  this  expression  more  simply.  Him; 
;«j/=me;  thy  =  \h&,  are  strict  datives  of  possession  after  self 
which  is  to  be  construed  as  the  real  subject;  so  that  himself = 
the  self  to  him  ;  myself  =^  the  self  to  me.  Cf.  al  him  one  =  him 
all  alone.  Gower.  Self  is  often  used  in  E.E.  for  an  emphatic 
subject  or  object. 

"And  eke  the  ladie  self  he  brought  away."    F.  Q^  iv.  i,  2. 
"  Such  as  the  maker  self  could  leest  by  art  devize."   lb.  iv.  3,  38. 
"  Lo  where  the  villaine  self,"  &c.     lb.  iv.  7,  30. 
In  all   these  cases  self  is   preceded   by  a  possessive  genitive, 
"which  answers  to  the  possessive  dative  in  him-seU.     The  posses- 
sive dative  was  common  in  A.S. 

529.  -was  his  l/rother^^  who  wa.s  his  brother.  This  omission 
of  the  subject-relative  is  common  in   Shakspeare.     "  I  have  a 


NOTES    TO    THE   FROLOOUE.  157 

mind  [which]  presages."  M.  of  V.  i.  i.  175.  JSec  Ahhott,  Shak. 
Gr.,  §  244.  We  still  use  the  same  construction  after  nouns, 
although  the  omission  is  awkward.     See  note,  1.  547. 

530.   t-lad,  drawn  out,  carried,  p.p.  of  lead. 

Father,  properly  a  carriage  load,  and  so  used  here;  cf.  Ger. 
fuder.     See  K.,  1050. 

532.  cJiaritee  (Fr.  charite,  Lat.  caritas)  ^=  love,  good-will. 
Charts  originally  signified  loveliness,  and  was  first  applied  to 
denote  physical  grace;  hence  the  Greeks  called  the  Graces 
charites.  The  transfer  to  spiritual  perfections  was  easy;  and 
charity  signified  loveliness  of  character,  prompted  by  good-will. 
It  is  so  used  by  St.  Paul  in  i  Cor.  xiii.  4:  "Charity  suftereth 
long,"  &c.  From  signifying  moral  virtue,  the  word  easily  came 
to  signify  those  acts  of  benevolence  which  are  the  strongest 
proof  of  its  possession. 

533.  God,  placed  first  for  emphasis. 

534.  though  him  ganiede  or  smcrte  =  though  it  pleased  or 
pained  him.  The  subject  is  the  previous  sentence,  God  lovede 
he.  We  usually  find  it  referring  to  the  sentence-subject.  Him  is 
ace-  after  impersonals  of  feeling.  Smcrte,  impersonal  subj.  pret. 
We  still  use  this  verb,  but  always  in  the  sense  of  physical  pain; 
cf.  "  It  smarts." 

535.  thanne  ^ih&n;  see  note,  1.  12. 
Himselve,  ace. 

536  dyhe  =  ditch,  though  now  restricted  to  making  an  em- 
bankm.ent.  Dyke  and  ditch,  originally  the  same  word,  have 
become  distinct ;  one  meaning  the  embankment  made,  and  the 
other  the  trench  excavated  in  making  a  ditch. 

537.  For  Cristes  sake.     See  Matt.  xxv.  40. 

538    if  it  lay  in  his  might  =  if  it  were  in  his  power. 

541.  mere  =  a.  mare.  To  ride  upon  a  mare  was  held  to 
be  beneath  the  dignity  of  a  man  of  distinction.  The  same 
notion  prevails  among  the  North  American  Indians,  among 
whom  the  warriors  ride  upon  stallions  and  the  women  upon 
mares. 

542.  Reeve  =  an  understeward,  whose  duty  it  was  to  super- 
intend the  estate  of  a  gentleman.  See  11.  587-622.  Also  an 
officer.  Mostly  used  in  composition  with  a  noun  denoting  the 
extent  of  his  jurisdiction;  as,  fort-reeve,  shire-reeve  (sheriff"), 
toivn-reeve,  &c. 

543.  Sompnour  =  a  summoner ;   an  officer  employed  to  sum- 


158  NOTES    TO    THE   PROLOGUE. 

mon  delinquents  to  appear  in  ecclesiastical  courts,  —  now  called 
an  apparitor. 

Pardoner  =  a  seller  of  pardons  ;  one  licensed  to  sell  indul- 
gences. 

545.  for  the  notics.     See  note  on  1.  379. 

547.  That  prcvede  we/ =  that  proved  he  well.  Subject  is 
omitted.  The  same  usage  is  frequent  in  Shakspeare.  "This 
ellipsis  of  the  nominative  may  perhaps  be  explained  partly : 
(1)  by  the  lingering  sense  of  inflections,  which  of  themselves  are 
sometimes  sufficient  to  indicate  the  person  of  the  pronoun  under- 
stood, as  in  Milton  :  — 

'  Thou  art  my  son  beloved  :  in  him  am  pleased  ; ' 
partly  (2)  by  the  influence  of  the  Latin;  partly  (3)  by  the  rapid- 
ity of  the  Elizabethan  pronunciation,  which  frequently  changed 
he  into  a  (a  change  also  common  in  E.E.),  'a  must  needs' 
(2  Hen.  VI.  iv.  2,  59),  and  prepared  the  way  for  dropping  he 
altogether."     Abbolt,  Shak.  Gr.,  §  402. 

overal  =^  every  where;  cf.  Ger.  iiberal.  Ovcral  thcr  may  be 
construed  together  =  wherever. 

548.  rt/zfey ^  always.  A.S.  calle  ivcffa,  all  ways;  hence  at  all 
times. 

ram.     A  ram  was  the  usual  prize  at  wrestling  matches. 
"  Of  wrastling  was  ther  non  his  pere, 
Ther  ony  ram  shuld  stonde." 

Rime  of  Sir  Thopas. 

549-  schort-schuldred :  we  would  say  short-rvaisted. 

A  thikke  knarre^^  thick-set  stub  of  a  fellow.  A'»rt/-;'e  =  knot 
{O.Y,.  gnarr).  A  derivative  of  this  word  is  still  in  colloquial 
use, — gnarly  (pronounced  nurly).  This  figure  is  used  because 
of  the  /('«o3^j>' appearance  of  the  muscles  when  largely  developed. 

550.  heve  of  harre  =  lift  off  the  hinges.  Gower  uses  the 
expression  '■'■  out  of  herre,"  which  Dr.  Pauli  leaves  unexplained; 
may  it  not  be  explained  as  "out  of  gear"  or  ''off' the  hinges,"  as 
the  colloquial  phrase  expresses  any  disorder.'' 

heve;  from  this  word  we  have  head  {h..S.  hcafod),  the  part 
which  is  lifted  up;  heavcti  (A.S.  heafon),  that  which  is  lifted  up, 
—  the  sky. 

552.  soTve  or  fox.     The  wild  hog  is  of  a  tawny  red  color. 

553.  drood  =  broad,  indicating  a  disregard  of  the  prevailing 
fashion.     See  line  270  and  note. 

554.  Upon  the  CO/ right  =  right  upon  the  top.    We  retain  the 


NOTES    TO   THE  PROLOGUE.  159 

word  cof)  \\\  col>=--  a  head,  the  receptacle  of  Indian  corn ;   so  also 
in  coping,  that  portion  of  a  wall  which  forms  the  top  or  finish. 

hade  =  hadde  =  had.     The  orthography  and  the  pronunci- 
ation are  changed  to  accommodate  the  rhyme. 

557.  nose-i/iurles  =  nos-trils.     (A.S.  thyrel.,  a  hole).     Spenser 
uses  intermediate  forms  :  — 

"That  flames  of  fire  he  threw  forth  from  his  large  nosethrill." 

F.  C^  i.  II,  22. 
"Where  proud  Encelade  whose  wide  7iosthrils  burnd." 

lb.,  iii.  9,  22. 
The  modern  orthography  conceals  the  etymology  of  the  word, 
and  could  only  have  come  into  use  when  the  real  meanijig  of  the 
compound  word  was  lost. 

55S.  sxverd  and  bocler.     See  1.  112. 

559.  yorweys  =  furnace.     See  1.  203. 

560.  jangler=^  a  great  talker.    From  this  word  we  h^vQ jangle 
to  quarrel,  and  perhaps y^V/^/e. 

golyardeys  =  ^  buffoon  (Skeat),  a  teller  of  ribald  stories. 
"The  primary  type  of  jollity  is  eating  and  drinking,  an  idea 
expressed  in  caricature  by  a  representation  of  the  sound  of  liquor 
pouring  down  the  throat.  .  .  .  Fr.  godaillcr,  to  guzzle,  to  tipple, 
.  .  .  faire  gogaille,  to  make  merry,  to  drink  merrily.  .  .  .  The 
latter  half  [of  gogaille,  Eng.  coll.^«^^/c]  seems  to  give  rise  to 
the  term  gaillard,  one  making  merry,  enjoying  himself,  a  good 
fellow  The  word  is  closely  allied  in  form  and  meaning  with 
the  O.E.  goliard,  a  loose  companion  ;  from  Fr.  gouliard,  a  greedy 
feeder."  Wedgwood.  Tyrwhitt  says:  "This  jovial  sect  seems 
to  have  been  so  called  from  Golias,  the  real  or  assumed  name 
of  a  man  of  wit,  toward  the  end  of  the  thirteenth  century,  who 
wrote  the  Afocalypsis  Goliae,  and  other  pieces,  in  burlesque 
Latin  rhymes,  some  of  which  have  been  falsely  attributed  to 
Walter  Map."  It  is  now  generally  believed  that  Golias  was  a 
fictitious  character,  invented  by  the  jolly  father  Map,  who 
named  his  imaginary  bishop  Golias,  as  the  hero  of  Gluttony, 
with  an  allusion  to  Goliath  the  Philistine."  See  Skeat's  note, 
P.P.,  p.  98. 

561.  And  that  zvas  =  and  one  who  was.     The   antecedent  of 
the  relative  must  be  supplied  from  the  preceding  line. 

Mosl  =  the  greatest,  a  master.     Master  is  from  Lat.  magnus, 
and  hence  will  aptly  translate  most  as  here  used. 

of  synne,  «Sic.,  genitives  of  specification.     See  1.  83. 


l6o  NOTES   TO   THE   PROLOGUE. 

563.  a  ihombe  of  gold.  Tjrwhitt  says  :  "If  the  allusion  be, 
as  is  most  probable,  to  the  old  proverb,  '  Every  honest  miller  has 
a  thumb  of  gold,'  this  passage  may  mean  that  our  miller,  not- 
withstanding his  thefts,  was  an  honest  miller;  i.e.,  as  honest  as 
his  brethren."  The  skill  of  the  miller  is  shown  by  the  fineness 
and  evenness  of  the  flour,  to  secure  which  required  constant  test- 
ing, which  was  secured  by  rubbing  the  flour  with  his  thumb,  so 
that  the  line  may  more  probably  refer  to  the  miHer's  skill  and 
not  to  his  honesty,  which  would  hardly  bear  any  very  flattering 
notice. 

565.  haggefipe,  quadrisyllable. 

566.  r//frw ////«/=  therewith  (wholly  with  this).  This  use  of 
therewithal  is  now  obsolete.  In  this  class  of  words,  al  is  added 
simply  for  emphasis. 

567.  Gtv/^// =  well-bred.  See  1.  72,  where  it  rather  means 
well-born  ;  although  with  the  further  idea  of  good-breeding. 

temple  limits  maunciple.  The  headquarters  of  the  Knights 
Templar  were  in  London,  and  went  by  the  name  of  "  The  Tem- 
ple;" subsequently  they  were  appropriated  to  the  chambers  of 
the  two  Inns  of  Court,  or  Colleges  in  which  students  of  Law 
reside,  and  receive  instruction,  the  chief  of  which  are  the  Inner 
Temple  and  the  Middle  Temple. 

Scan  :  A  gen  \  tie  Maun  |  c'ple  was  |  &c. 

568.  Of  -which  =  of  whom ;  cf.  "  Our  Father  which  art  in 
Heaven." 

569.  For  governs  the  infinitive  clause  following.  Buyers 
might  take  example  in  regard  to  buying  victuals. 

570.  ivhcthcr  that  =  whether  it  were  that ;  whether.  As  an 
interrogative  -whether  =\i\r\c\\  of  two;  from  this  meaning  comes 
its  force  as  a  so-called  conjunction,  used  to  introduce  the  first  of 
two  alternative  clauses.  These  uses  of  whether  are  unfortunately 
becoming  obsolete.  "  Whether  of  them  twain  did  the  will  of  his 
father.?"  Matt  xxi.  31.  We  now  say  zvhich  :  we  usually  Omit 
the  interrogative  or  alternative  tvhetker. 

took  by  taille  =  hought  on  credit.  Taille  =  tally  (Fr.  tailler, 
to  cut).  Before  reading  and  writing  were  such  common  accom- 
plishments, accounts  were  kept  by  notches  cut  into  a  stick 
Thus  one  meaning  of  tally  is  to  count;  to  keep  tally  =  to  keep 
count.  When  there  was  a  running  account  with  debts  and 
credits,  each  party  kept  a  tally-stick,  and  as,  if  the  accounts  were 
kept  correctly,  these  sticks  would  be  the   same,   to  tally  =  to 


yoU'^s  TO  77//';  L'lioLuauic.  i6i 

agree.  This  metliod  was  in  use  as  late  as  the  Restoration,  for 
Pepjs  in  his  Diary  livquentlj-  mentions  borrowing  money  on 
iallics. 

571.  waytede  so  =  was  so  attentive  to  his  business. 

572.  .^//"c/v/^  before  (others).  A.S.  beforan.  We  have  cor- 
rupted this  beforuii  into  beforehand.,  which  again  has  been 
altered  to  forc/nuidcd. 

573-  a  fill  fair  grace  ^=  ^n  exceedingly  great  gift.  Grace  has 
acquired  a  theological  meaning  =  the  favor  of  God. 

574.  /(•-ft'c/=  unlearned.     See  note,  1.  502. 

w//  =  judgment;  practical  knowledge,  derived  from  observa- 
tion, as  distinguished  from  wisdom  derived  from  study.  It  is 
from  the  unstudied  spontaneous  character  of  this  knowledge  that 
the  later  definitions  of  wit  have  arisien. 

schal  pace.  We  would  say  s/iould  surpass.  Sc/iai  must  be 
construed  as  present  subjunctive  in  a  subordinate  clause.  We 
do  not  now  use  sc/iai  with  the  pres.  subj.,  although  we  use  should 
in  the  pret.  (conditional). 

jZ5rtcc  =  surpass.  "  The  grace  of  God,  which  passeth  all  under- 
standing."    Philip,  iv.  7 

575.  -uisdom,  learning  as  contrasted  with  wii,  or  common 
sense. 

^ctT^  =  a  large  number.  This  use  of  heap  is  still  current  in 
the  West  and  South,  where  many  Old  English  idioms  have  been 
preserved  to  be  called  Americanisms. 

576.  mayst res ^=  musters.  Lat.  //iai>-isie r,  t'rum  maguus,  y,rcat. 
As  here  used  it  refers  to  the  lawyers  whom  he  served. 

hadde  he  =  had  he  had. 

578.  tuhich  =  whom. 

house  here  refers  to  the  temple  spoken  of,  1.  567. 

580.  Bug-elofid  =  Angel-\ond,  i.e.,  the  land  of  the  Angles,  one 
of  the  Teutonic  tribes  that  settled  the  island  of  Great  Britain. 
The  three  leading  tribes  were  the  Jutes  from  Jutland,  the  Angles 
from  Anglen  in  Sleswick,  and  the  Saxons  from  the  mouth  of  the 
Rhine.  When  the  tribes  fused  together  into  one  people,  the 
preponderance  of  the  Angles  gave  the  name  England  to  the 
country. 

581.  lyve,  inf.,  second  object  of  make. 

propre  good  =  own  property.  Propre  =  what  is  peculiar  to 
one's  self;  hence  befitting  one's  character,  station,  &c. ;  also 
suited  to  what  ought  to  be.     The  original  meaning  is  preserved 


l62  NOTES   TO   THE  PROLOGUE. 

in  the  legal  phrase,  "  in  proper  person."  The  noun  property  has 
also  the  same  meaning,  and  strictly  signifies  what  is  one's  own  ; 
in  the  case  of  inoral  good  we  use  the  form  propriety.  "  I  have 
of  mine  own  proper  good."  i  Chron.  xxix.  3.  That  is,  private 
property. 

"And  of  comun  his  prop  re  made."     Gower,  ii.  128. 
^(70^^  goods,  property.     L,^.t.  bona.     Gr.  ayada.     This  paral- 
lelism is  not  a  little  remarkable.     Men   have  always  considered 
wealth  the  highest  earthly  good,  as  virtue  is  the  highest  spiritual 
possession. 

582.  /;/  honour  dcttcles  ^=  honorably  and  yet  without  incurring 
debt.  Honour  here  means  in  a  way  to  attract  consideration  : 
from  this  meaning  the  transition  to  that  zvkic/i  entitles  one  to 
honor  is  quite  easy  :  thus  integrity  is  the  honor  oi  a  man,  —  "  upon 
my  honor,"  —  and  virtue  is  the  ho7ior  of  a  woman. 

but-if=  except.     The  force  of  but  is  negative. 

583.  or  lyve ;   in  same  construction  as  lyvc  in  1.  581. 

as  hym  list  desire=^^%  it  pleases  him  to  desire.  Wright  reads 
"  as  he  can  desire." 

5S4.  .4;/^  connects  able  to  tvorthi,  1.  579. 

For  governs  to  helpeti,  used  substantively. 

hclpen  =  to  extricate  from  difficulty. 

al  a  =  a.  whole.  Al  must  be  construed  as  an  adverb  modify- 
ing a  considered  as  a  numeral. 

"  Of  al  a  wyke  wirche  nought."     P.P.  vi.  258. 

586.   maunciple,  dissyllable. 

sette  here  allcr  cappe  =^v{ou\d  make  fools  of  them  all. 

Aller  is  the  gen.  pi.  of  alle ;  here  (A.S.  heora),  gen.  pi.  oC he ; 
here  aller  =  eorum  otnniunt.  "  To  set  one's  cap  "  is  to  put  a  fool's 
cap  on  him,  to  overreach  him.  For  all  these  lawyers  were 
so  smart,  the  manciple  by  his  native  wit  could  outwit  them 
all. 

5S7.  colerik  =  irascible,  bilious.  The  bile  was  supposed  to 
be  the  seat  of  irascibility. 

588.  neigh  =  c\ose,  nigh.  We  retain  this  orthography  in 
neighbor. 

he  can :  we  would  use  could  here,  but  ever  implying  a  contin- 
uous time  (present)  throws  the  verb  quite  naturally  into  the 
present.  We  use  the  present  after  a  future,  but  not  after  a 
preterite. 

589.  round  i-shorn.     Short  hair  was  a  mark  of  inferior  con- 


NOTES    TO    THE   PROLOGUE.  163 

dition.     See  11.  81,  109.     The  long,  lank,  lean  body  of  the  reeve 
is  in  admirable  keeping  with  his  character. 

590.  docked  =  cut  short.  Wages  are  docked  for  loss  of 
time. 

592.  calf=^  the  fleshy  part  of  the  leg.  This  word  is  only  a 
shortened  form  of  collop,  a  lump,  especially  of  fat :  the  calf  of  the 
leg  is  the  collop  of  flesh  belonging  to  it. 

593.  Wcl  cotvde  he  kepe  =  he  well  knew  how  to  take  care  of 
(keep  account  of)  a  granary  and  a  bin. 

594.  cotvde,  relative  subject  ti'^o  omitted.     See  note,  1.  529. 
on  him  =  against  him,  of  him.     This  use  oi  on  is  still  current 

in  colloquial  language.     "  Lest  they  should  tell  on  us."     i  Sam. 
xxvii.  II. 

ziyv/wc  ^  gain  the  victory  in  case  of  disputed  accounts;  no 
auditor  could  find  an  error  in  his  accounts. 

595.  Wcl  wisie  he,  &c.  =  well  knew  he  by,  &c.,  what  would 
be  the  yield  of  his  crops.  He  could  foretell  the  yield  from  the 
circumstances  of  the  weather. 

596.  Tieldyfig- =  thQ  return  (A.S.  gyldan,  to  pay):  (i)  That 
which  is  paid  or  returned  for  something;  (2)  a  giving  way, — 
a  mental  action  analogous  to  paying;  (3)  the  physical  act  con- 
forming to  this  mental  state.  E.g.,  the  yield  of  a  field;  a  yield- 
ing temper;   yielding  to  opposition. 

597.  nect^=  cattle.  A.S.  neat  a  derivative  of  7iyt  useful.  Neat 
cattle  was  not  originally  a  tautological  expression,  but  was  used 
as  we  now  use  the  word  cattle.  We  still  use  the  word  in  com- 
pounds; e.g.,  neat-leather. 

dayerie  =  A7L\ry.  "The  dey  was  a  servant  in  husbandry, 
mostly  a  female,  whose  duty  was  to  make  cheese  and  butter, 
attend  to  the  calves  and  poultry,  and  other  odds  and  ends  of  the 
farm.  .  .  .  The  milking  of  the  cows  and  feeding  the  weanlings 
by  hand  would  naturally  fall  to  the  same  attendant,  and  hence 
the  origin  of  the  name  as  rightly  pointed  out  by  Jamieson.  Dan, 
daegge  to  feed  with  foreign  milk."     Wedgwood. 

"  For  she  was  as  it  were  a  maner  dey." 

Nonne  Preestes  Tale,  26. 

599.  //tf//y  =  wholly.  A.S.  //«/,  whole,  hale;  we  thus  distin- 
guish the  two  significations  by  the  orthography. 

governytige ^=zon\.ro\.     The   literal   meaning  of  ^tf&cr«  is   to, 
steer  a  ship;   L,at.  gul^ernare,  Gr.  KvPepvuv.     It  then  denoted  the 
control  of  public  affairs,  —  the  ship  of  state,  as  we  still   say, 


164  NOTES    TO    THE   PROLOGUE. 

unconsciously  maintaining  the  old  figure;  and  finally  it  denotes 
control  in  general. 

601.  lord ^mzster,  employer,  A.S.  hlaford.  This  word  is 
usually  derived  from  hlaj\  loaf,  bread,  and  ord,  author,  giver; 
thus  /or(f=  bread-giver.  Others  derive  it  from  hlaf-iveard  = 
the  bread-warder.  Lady  is  also  derived  from  an  assumed  fem- 
inine Jilaf-u<cardigc.  But  these  etymologies  are  extremely 
doubtful,  if  not  untenable.  "  Thorkelin  in  his  Glossary  to 
Beowulf,  under  the  title  Rex,  refers  the  word  Hlaford  to  an 
Icelandic  origin,  considering  it  as  a  corruption  of  Ladvard,  a 
term  denoting  power  and  responsibility.  His  words  are:  Hlaf- 
ord, rectius  Ladvard,  Icl.  Lavardr,  a  Lad,  terra,  et  vaurdr, 
custos,  adeo  Hlaford  est,  revera,  custos  terrae,  ie.,  patriae." 
Pref.  Ormulum.  So  also  lady,  Icl.  lavdt,  also  written  in  A.S. 
hlavedi.  Tlie  older  forms  of  the  words  are  the  simpler,  which 
would  seem  to  indicate  that  the  resemblance  to  hlaf  is  only  the 
result  of  corruption. 

605.  c/cMe  =  pestilence.  Trevisa  calls  the  Great  Plague  of 
1349  "  the  grete  deth." 

607.  place,  i.e.  of  residence,  —  used  also  to  denote  a  collection 
of  dwellings,  as  a  village;  hence  the  collection  of  buildings  for 
the  use  of  a  familj'. 

609.  t'-stored  prively^^fuW  richly  stored  was  he  privately: 
his  private  property  was  large. 

610.  subtilly^CYn^tWy.  The  figure  is  that  of  a  thread  spun 
to  exceeding  fineness,  implying  great  skill  and  cunning. 

611.  To  gevc  and  Icuc  =  to  give  and  lend. 
of  his  o-vne  good  ^  partitive  gen. 

612.  thank,  now  used  only  in  the  pi.  From  A.S.  thejican,  to 
remember. 

613.  ;«e.<;^('r=  trade.  "  The  Greek  juvarr/piov  meant  originally  the 
secret  doctrines  and  ceremonies  connected  with  the  worship  of 
particular  divinities.  In  the  middle  ages  the  most  difficult  and 
delicate  processes  of  many  of  the  mechanical  arts  were  kept 
religiously  secret,  and  hence  in  all  the  countries  of  Europe, 
those  arts  were  themselves  called  mysteries,  as  mechanical  trades 
still  are  in  the  dialect  of  the  English  law.  Thus,  when  a  boy  is 
apprenticed  to  a  tanner  or  a  shoemaker,  the  legal  instrument  or 
indenture,  by  which  he  is  bound,  stipulates  that  he  shall  be 
taught  the  art  and  mystery  of  tanning  or  shoemaking.  After- 
wards mystery  came  to  designate,  in  common  speech,  any  reg- 


NOTES    TO   THE  PROLOGUE.  165 

ular  occupation,  so  that  a  man's  mjsterj  was  his  trade,  his 
employment,  the  profession  by  which  he  earned  his  bread  ;  and 
as  men  are  most  obviously  classed  and  characterized  by  their 
habitual  occupations,  the  question  which  so  often  occurs  in  Old 
English  writers,  'what  mester  wight  is  that?' means  what  is 
that  man's  employment,  and,  consequently,  condition  in  life.' 
Marsh,  Lect.  Eng.  Lang.,  251. 

"  Artificers 
Which  usen  craftes  and  mcstiers 
Whose  art  is  cleped  mechanique." 

Gower,  Con.  Am.  iii.  142. 
See  K.,  1.  852. 

This  word  must  be  distinguished  from  maistn'c,  Lat.  tnaff/s- 
teriutn,  craft,  skill,  power,  and  from  mister,  Lat.  mijiisicrium, 
need,  necessity. 

"  To  put  him  out  of  all  daungere 
That  he  of  mete  hath  no  mistcre.'"  (need)  R.R.,  5614. 

614.  a  'lVcI good^a.  very  good  :  so  also  fnl  good. 

616.  highte  =  was  called  :  properly  a  reduplicated  passive 
form  of  the  verb. 

615.  a  rusty  blade,  for  show,  — being  rusty  it  was  evident  that 
it  had  not  been  habitually  carried  ;  a  fine  touch  of  humor,  admi- 
rably illustrating  the  character  of  the  Reeve. 

619.  A"6i;-//(/(>//C-  =  Norfolk.  The  two  kingdoms  founded  by 
the  Angles  in  England  were  called  Northfolk  and  Suffolk,  or 
north  and  south  folk  or  people.  These  names  still  survive  in  the 
names  of  counties  of  England. 

620.  Byside  =  near  to,  by  the  side  of. 

men  is  here  pi.  of  man,  and  not  the  indefinite  pronoun. 

621.  Tukkcd,  &c.  He  was  clothed  [tucked  about]  as  is  a 
friar;    i.e.,  in  a  long  blouse  or  frock. 

622.  hyndreste  =  hindmost.  H//idmost  is  a  double  superlative : 
est,  the  modern  supl.  termination,  being  added  to  the  old  supl. 
term.  ma. 

623.  Sojnpnour.     See  note  1.  543. 
in  that  filacc.     See  1.  20. 

624.  cherubytics  face,  a  round,  full,  ruddy  face,  such  as  paint- 
ers give  to  cherubim. 

625.  5a7fce;f(?;«  ;==  an  indefinite  skin  disease.  Tyrwhitt  quotes 
the  following  from  the  Thousand  Notable  Things:  "  A  saws' 
fleame  or  red  pimpled  face  is  helped  with  the  medicine  follow 
ing;"  two  of  the  ingredients  are  quicksilver  and  brimstone. 


lOO  NOTES    TO    THE  FBOLOGUE. 

ey£-/ien  =eyes.  Chaucer  gives  the  following  variations  in 
orthography:   Ejen,  Ejghen,  Eyhen,  Eghen. 

627.  skalled,  having  the  scall  or  scab;  scurfy.  "If  a  man  or 
woman  have  a  plague  upon  the  head  or  the  beard;  then  the 
priest  shall  see  the  plague;  and  behold  if  it  be  in  sight  deeper 
than  the  skin;  and  there  be  in  it  a  yellow  thin  hair;  then  the 
priest  shall  pronounce  him  unclean ;  it  is  a  dry  scall."  Lev. 
xiii.  29,  30. 

Make,  light-colored —  yellowish  (as  from  leprosy).  See  "  yel- 
low thin  hair"  above.  A.S.  blac,  pale,  pallid,  blac-hleor,  pale- 
faced.  Blac,  pale,  and  blaec,  black,  are  both  from  blican,  to 
shine,  to  dazzle.  "The  original  meaning  of  Zi/rtc/' seems  to  have 
been  exactly  the  reverse  of  the  present  sense  ;  viz.  shining,  white. 
It  is  in  fact  radically  identical  with  Fr.  blanc,  white,  blank.  .  .  . 
Then  as  white  is  contrasted  with  anj'  special  color,  the  word 
came  to  signify  pale,  faded.  .  .  .  Again,  as  colors  fade  away,  the 
aspect  of  the  object  becomes  indistinct  and  obscure,  and  thus 
the  idea  of  discoloration  merges  in  that  of  dim,  dusky,  dark  on 
the  one  side,  and  in  that  of  pale  and  white  on  the  other.  .  .  . 
When  the  idea  of  dimness  or  obscurity  is  pushed  to  its  limit  it 
becomes  absolute  darkness  or  blackness."  Wedgwood.  "'To 
make  his  brows  blake,'  or  turn  jtale,  was  a  common  poetical 
phrase  equivalent  to  to  vanquish  him.'"'"  Wright,  Prov.  Die. 
"  As  blake  as  a  marygold  "  is  a  proverbial  simile  in  dialectical 
English. 

"  Some  on  [pleaseth]  for  she  is  pale  and  bleche." 

Gower,  C.  A.  ii.  210. 
Morris,  however,  explains  blake  as  black. 

piled berd ^  a  thin  beard.  See  note,  1.  177.  "And  the  man 
whose  hair  is  fallen  oft"  his  head  (margin  'head  is  pilled).'" 
Lev.  xiii.  40. 

628.  «/e/-erf=  afraid,  frightened.  "Be  not  afeard ;  the  isle 
is  full  of  noises."  Tempest,  iii.  2,  137.  This  pronunciation  is 
still  common  in  some  parts  of  this  country. 

630.  oille  of  tartre  =  2i  preparation  of  white  tartar,  used  as  a 
cosmetic.  "  Oyle  of  tartar  is  said  '  to  take  away  clene  all  spots, 
freckles  and  filthy  ivhealcs.'  These  last,  I  suppose,  are  what 
Chaucer  calls  whelkes."      T. 

632.  Of  his  tvhelkes  =  that  could  relieve  him  of  his  whelkes, 
"She  was  healed  of  that  plague."  Mk.  v.  29.  So  in  A.S.  with 
the  idea  of  separation,  "  alys  us  of  vfele,"  deliver  us  from  evil. 
Morris   explains    "to    help  off;"  but  hclf   governs  hi?n   in  the 


NOTES    TO    THE   PROLOGUE.  167 

dative   as   in  A.S.,  while  help-off  must  be  construed  as  a  com- 
pound verb  governing  whellves. 

633.  sitting  :=  staying — in  spite  of  remedies. 

635.  Scan  :  And  for  |  to  drink  |  e  strong  |  &c. 

to  drinke,  inf.  to  be  construed  as  a  noun  after  yi?;-. 

636.  as  he  -vcre  =  as  if  he  were.  The  subjunctive,  when  indi- 
cated by  the  termination,  did  not  require  the  conjunction  to 
designate  the  mood. 

637.  w//rt«  ///«/  =  when;  literally  "  at  what  [time]  that." 

he  'vcl  dronken  hadde  =  he  had  drunk  a  large  quantity.  "  Every 
man  at  the  beginning  doth  set  forth  good  wine;  and  when  men 
have  tvell  dnmk,  then  that  which  is  worse."  Jno.  ii.  10.  "And 
when  men  be  dronke."    Tyndale. 

638.  Laty)i=  the  language  of  the  learned. 

639.  A  feive  termcs.  As  a  belongs  only  to  singular  nouns, 
or  nouns  to  be  construed  in  the  singular,  it  cannot  limit  tcrmes ; 
the  real  construction  is  "  a  few  of  terms."  We  find  this  partitive 
construction  regularly  used  after  numerals  ;  e.g.,  a  thousand  men 
(of  men). 

/cr;«c5=: technical  terms,  —  words  used  in  a  peculiar  sense. 

641.  No  ivonder  /5  =  it  is  no  wonder;  i.e.,  that  he  should 
learn  it,  as  he  heard  it  all  day  in  the  courts.  The  Law  writs  all 
followed  a  certain  model,  and  hence  each  would  be  a  repetition 
of  the  other,  except  so  far  as  change  would  be  necessary  to  adapt 
it  to  the  particular  circumstances  of  the  case.  The  Summoner 
is  likened  to  a  jay  which  learns  to  repeat  words  which  it  has 
frequently  heard. 

642.  ho'v  that  =^\\o\\;  literally  "in  what  way  it  is  that;  "  hozv 
is  the  instrumental  c^sQoi zvhat.  "That  thou  mayest  know  how 
that  the  earth  is  the  Lord's.'     Ex.  ix.  29. 

643.  Ca)i  clepen  Watte  =  can  call  Watt,  just  as  parrots  say 
Poll. 

644.  50  is  the  pronoun,  added  (cf.  Lat.  quis-qiiis)  to  render 
the  interrogative  indefinite. 

other  thitig^=  other  matters. 

grope  ^tvy,  test;  literally,  to  feel  with  the  hands.  The  orig- 
inal force  of  this  word  is  still  maintained  in  the  south-western 
States;  as,  to  "  grabble  potatoes,"  is  to  thrust  the  hand  into  the 
hill,  and  select  the  largest,  leaving  the  small  ones  to  grow. 

645.  Thanne  hadde  he  spent.  All  he  knew  was  tlie  phrases 
which  he  had  picked  up. 


1 68  NOTES    TO   THE  PROLOGUE. 

646.  ^iicsiio  quid  Juris.  The  question  is,  what  is  the  law  in 
the  case.  "This  kind  of  question  occurs  frequently  in  Ralph  de 
Hingham.  After  having  stated  a  case,  he  adds  ^uid  Juris,  and 
then  proceeds  to  give  the  answer  to  it."     T. 

648.  noght.     Wright  reads  7ioivher,  —  a  better  reading. 

652.  To  pille  a  fytich^to  pluck  (pill)  a  finch;  i.e.,  to  cheat 
one  out  of  his  money. 

654.  kijn,  — to  han.     Double  ace.  after  verbs  of  teaching,  &c. 
rtw«  =  dread.     We  use  the  word  to  denote  that  degree  of  fear 

inspired  by  something  great  or  sublime. 

655.  In  such  a  caas.     Morris  reads  "  in  such  caas." 
Archedeknes  =^  archdeacon's,  —  an  ecclesiastic  next   in   rank 

below  a  bishop,  with  authority  to  hold  court  and  try  and  punish 
ecclesiastical  offences.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that  the  titles  of 
many  of  the  officers  of  the  church  were  assumed  from  words 
meaning  various  grades  of  servants  ;  e.g.,  pastor,  deacon,  bishop, 
&c. 

656.  But  ?/■=:  except  =  if  his  soul  were  7iot  in  his  purse. 
;««««(?.';  =  man's.     The  old  full  form  of  the  genitive.    We  indi- 
cate the  elision  by  the  (')  apostrophe. 

657.  These  four  lines  may  be  paraphrased  thus  :  "  He  would, 
in  such  a  case,  teach  him  to  have  no  fear  of  the  Archdeacon's 
curse,  unless  his  soul  was  in  his  purse,  for  he  should  be  punished 
only  by  a  fine." 

658.  ^uod  he  ^^  <\\.\oW\  he  (pret.)  Now  used  only  in  the  ist 
and  3d  persons  pret.  to  give  an  archaic  effect;  as,  quoth  /,  quoth 
he,  sometimes  corrupted  into  quotha. 

659.  right  =]\\%\..  Right  \9.  still  used  colloquially  to  empha- 
size the  following  word;  as,  right  axvay,  right  here.  Just  fiotv 
here.  /«  (/e^e  =•  indeed,  to  be  construed  as  an  adverb,  limited 
by  right. 

660.  Him  drede^=^^  Each  guilty  man  ought  to  be  afraid  for 
himself  of  excommunication."  Him,  dative  after  otight ;  evidently 
here  used  with  the  sense  of  ozve,  —a  guilty  man  owes  it  to  him- 
self to  be  afraid,  &c.     Wright  reads,  "  oweth  ech  gulty  man." 

661.  curs  used  in  the  abstract  =  cursing. 

662.  ^»(/ connects  war  and  techen,  1.  654,  from  whence  -wolde 
must  be  supplied. 

War  of  him  =  war  him  of,  —  warn  him  against. 
significavit  =  a  writ    of    excommunication,    which    usually 
began,  "  Significavit  nobis  venerabilis  frater." 


NOTES    TO   THE   L'ROLOQUE.  169 

663  In  (fauiiffcr  =\\\i\\\n  liis  jurisdiction.  The  history  ot 
the  word  danger  is  most  curious  and  instructive.  "  In  Mid.  Lat. 
damHiim  was  used  to  signify  a  fine  imposed  by  legal  authority. 
The  term  was  then  elliptically  applied  to  the  limits  over  which 
the  right  of  a  lord  to  the  fines  for  territorial  offences  extended, 
and  then  to  the  inclosed  field  of  a  proprietor.  ...  In  this  sense 
the  word  was  often  rendered  damage  in  French.  Damage  then 
acquired  the  sense  of  trespass,  intrusion  into  the  close  of  another, 
as  in  the  legal  phrase  damage-feasant,  whence  Fr.  damager,  to 
distrain  or  seize  cattle  found  in  trespass.  From  this  verb  was 
apparently  formed  the  ahatract  domigcri/im,  signifying  the  power 
of  exacting  a  damnum  or  fine  for  trespass.  Then  as  damage  is 
written  damge  in  the  laws  of  William  the  Conqueror,  the  {oyq- 
going  dom/gen'um  and  the  corresponding  Fr.  domager  or  dam- 
ager would  puss  into  damger,  danger.  .  .  .  The  term  ^rt«^c;' was 
equally  applied  to  the  right  of  exacting  a  fine  for  breach  of  terri- 
torial rights,  or  to  the  fine  or  the  rights  themselves.  .  .  .  To  be 
in  the  danger  of  any  one  —  esire  en  S07i  danger  —  came  to  sig- 
nify to  be  subjected  to  any  one,  to  be  in  his  power,  or  liable  to  a 
penalty  to  be  inflicted  by  him  or  at  his  suit,  and  hence  the  ordi- 
nary acceptation  of  the  word  at  the  present  day.  As  the  penalty 
might  frequently  be  avoided  by  obtaining  the  license  of  the  per- 
son possessed  of  the  right  infringed,  the  word  was  applied  to 
such  license  or  to  exactions  made  as  the  price  of  permission." 
Wedgwood.     Littre  derives  danger  from  M.  Lat.  dominium. 

assize  =  assize,  court ;  properly  a  court  composed  of  a  number 
of  judges.  "The  word  assise  is  derived  by  Sir  Edward  Coke 
from  the  Latin  assidco,  to  sit  together;  and  it  signifies  originally 
the  jury  who  try  the  cause,  and  sit  together  for  that  purpose. 
V>y  a  figure  it  is  now  made  to  signify  the  court  or  jurisdiction 
which  summons  this  jury  together."  Blackstone,  iii.  1S5.  Tyr- 
whitt  reads  "owen  gise  "=own  way,  pleasure. 

664.  giirlcs^=  young  people  of  either  sex. 
"Grammar  for  gerlys  I  garte  firste  to  write."     P.P. 

Cf.  A.S.  ceorl,  a  churl,  a  freeman  of  the  lowest  rank.  These 
two  lines  =  he  had  the  young  people  of  the  diocese  within  the 
jurisdiction  of  his  own  court. 

665.  al  here  re^=  wholly  their  adviser;  their  adviser  upon 
all  points;  cf.  "read  me  my  riddle;  "  i.e.,  explain  my  riddle. 

667.  as  it  7vere=as  though  it  were.  In  all  such  cases,  the 
contingent  conjunction  is  imjilied  in  the  subjunctive  mode  of 
the  verb. 


lyo  NOTES    TO    THE  PROLOGUE. 

ale-stake,  a  stake  hung  with  branches  and  leaves  set  up  in 
front  of  an  ale-house  for  a  sign.  The  custom  of  adorning  the 
front  of  ale-houses  with  live  branches  on  festal  occasions  is  still 
kept  up  among  us,  particularly  by  the  Germans. 

668.  A  bokeler.  Sic.  Cakes  were  sold  at  the  ale-houses;  this 
novel  sort  of  a  buckler  was  probably  suggested  to  the  poet  by 
the  Sompnour's  resemblance  to  an  ale-stake. 

"  But  firste,  quod  he,  here  at  this  ale-stake 
I  wol  both  drinke  and  biten  ona  cake." 

C.  T.,  12,255. 

669.  Pardoner^'A  seller  of  indulgences,  —  a  class  of  persons 
who  brought  great  scandal  upon  the  church. 

670.  liounceval.     "  Perhaps  the  name  of  some  fraternity."  T. 

671.  -ivas  ro;«e«  =:  had  come.  Intransitive  verbs  in  A.S. 
formed  the  perfect  and  pluperfect  with  the  auxiliary  to  be.  Comen 
is  therefore  the  past  participle,  and  the  expression  =  that  was 
having  recently  come,  «&c.  This  periphrastic  form  describes  the 
actor  rather  than  the  act. 

co?irt  of  Ro»ic=^\.hc  Papal  court.  Observe  that  Rome  rhymes 
with  to  VIC  ;  similarly,  Gower  rhymes  time  with  by  me. 

672.  Pie/  loiude=\Qry  loudly.  The  dative  singular  of  any 
adjective  could  be  used  as  an  adverb  both  in  A.S.  and  in  E.E. 
From  this  fact  we  may  easily  explain  the  constant  tendency, 
particularly  in  colloquial  language,  to  use  adjectives  instead  of 
adverbs. 

Come  kidcr,  &c.  Probably  the  beginning  or  the  refrain  of  a 
well-known  popular  song. 

Scan  :  Ful  lowde  |  he  sang  |  Com  hid  |  cr  lov  |  e  to  me. 
673.  B//rdouu  =  hass.     Burdoufi  =  a  staff  or   support;   iienio 
in  music  denoting  the  fundamental  part  or  bass  upon  which  tl.r 
others  rest  or  lean. 

674.  rFrt5=  there  was.  Such  an  omission  must  be  explained, 
as  the  omitted  relative  subject. 

676.  //f;;^=hung.  Strong  verbs  in  A.S.  changed  the  vowel 
in  the  preterite,  but  also  sometimes  changed  this  vowel  in  the 
different  persons  and  numbers  of  the  pret. ;  whence  arises  the 
confusion  between  5««^  and  suns',  drank  and  drunk.  A.S.  sing. 
sang,  pi.  sung07i ;  sing,  dranc,  pi.  druncon.  According  to  this 
analogy  we  have  hynge  (hjmgen)  in  the  next  line;  although  in 
this  verb  there  is  no  change  in  A.S. 

677.  By  unces,  Sic,  in  separate  portions  hung  the  curls  that 


NOTES    TO    THE  PROLOOUE,  17 1 

he  liad  had,  and  therewith  (i.e.  with  this  dishevelled  hair)  he 
covered  his  shoulders.  The  same  idea  is  more  clearly  expressed 
in  1.  679. 

679.  On  and  oon  =  one  by  one.  The  hair  that  had  been  curled 
in  ringlets  hung  in  straight  wisps  This  sort  of  fashionable 
carelessness  admirably  befits  the  character  of  the  Pardoner. 

680.  For  jolitec^hQC'is.m^  oi  his  gayety.  This  use  of  ybr  is 
common  in  Shakspeare.  See  Abbott,  Sh.  Gr.  §  150.  Jolitcc. 
Some  connect  this  with  Eng.  yule.  Christmas,  alluding  to  the 
festivities  of  that  occasion. 

682.  Him  tkoughte  =  it  seemed  to  him  that  he  rode,  &c.  We 
still  say  incthoiight  without  any  apprehension  of  the  construc- 
tion, just  as  we  say  "  if  you  please  "  without  any  recognition  of 
the  dative  j'tfw. 

of  the  netve  gci  ^  after  the  latest  fashion, — the  new  style. 
0/  the  netve  get  is  an  adverbial  element  modifying  rood ;  al 
modifies  this  adv.  element. 

685.  Vernicle,  diminutive  of  Vcronike  or  Veronica  {yera-icon 
=  true  image),  a  representation  of  the  face  of  our  Saviour, 
printed  upon  a  handkerchief,  in  imitation  of  the  celebrated  orig- 
inal preserved  with  great  veneration  in  St.  Peter's  church  at 
Rome.  "  Some  believe  that  it  [the  original]  is  the  same  kerchief 
which  was  put  on  Christ's  face  in  the  tomb,  according  to  John, 
XX.  7;  others  have  persuaded  themselves,  but  without  proof,  that 
it  is  the  kerchief  with  which  a  holy  woman  [St.  Veronica]  wiped 
the  Saviour's  face  when  he  went  to  Mount  Calvary,  bearing  his 
cross."  See  Encyc.  Am.  It  was  usual  for  persons  returning 
from  pilgrimages  to  bring  with  them  certain  tokens  of  the  several 
places  which  they  had  visited,  and  therefore  the  Pardoner,  who 
is  just  arrived  from  Rome  is  represented  with  '  a  vernicle  sewed 
upon  his  cappe.'"     T. 

"  A  bolle  and  a  bagge  he  bar  by  his  syde  "\ 

An  hundred  of  ampulles  on  his  hat  seten, 
Signes  of  Synay,  and  shells  of  Galice, 
And  many  a  crouche  on  his  cloke  and  keyes  of  Rome 
And  the  Verm'cie  bifore,  for  men  sholde  knowe 
And  se  by  hise  signes  whom  he  sought  hadde." 

P.P.  V.  526.     Skeat. 

686.  iap/>e  =  lap.  A.S.  lacfpa,  a  lap,  border,  hem.  The 
original  meaning  is  retained  in  lapel-,  a  fold  of  cloth  like  a  heni; 


172  NOTES    TO    THE   PROLOGUE. 

used  to  hide  a  seam,  &c. ;   and   in  lapfet  sometimes  called  Jlap^ 
parts  of  a  garment  which  hang  loose;  cf.  flabby. 

687.  Brei-ful ^=h\-\YC\-'i\x\\\  full  to  the  top.  Tjrwhitt  sajs  the 
meaning  of  this  word  is  clearer  than  the  etymology.  O.E.  brurd- 
fiil,  A.S.  brcrd,  brink.     See  K.  1306. 

"  I  bowed  in  blys  bred  ful  my  braynes." 

E.E.  Allit.  Poems,  A.  126. 
"  Er  \xhe  bothom  wass  brurd-ful  to  the  bonkes  egges." 

lb.  B.  383. 
al  koot  =  a.\\  hot  or  fresh  from  Rome, — satirically  compar- 
ing the  sellers  of  indulgences  to  the  venders  of  eatables  who  thus 
cry  their  wares. 

"  Cokes  and  here  knaves  crieden  '  hote  pies,  bote  ! 
Gode  gris  [pigs]  and  gees,  gowe  dyne  gowe ! '"    [come]. 

P.P.  Prol.,  226. 

688.  voys  .  .  .  S7nal=  a  voice  as  weak.  "A  still  small  voice." 
I  Kg.  xix.  12. 

690.  it  refers  to  the  part  of  the  face  usually  covered  with 
beard. 

692.  Ber-wyk,  a  seaport  on  the  river  Tweed,  at  the  extreme 
north  of  England. 

Ware,  a  seaport  on  the  channel. 

693.  such  another.  We  now  say  ^wt^/^cri^^c^,  although  s?;c^  a 
is  allowable.  Another ^rt  or  an  other;  other  (a- whether)  = 
any  one  [one  of  any  two] ;  such  another  is  therefore  in  strict 
analogy  with  such  a.  Many  of  these  words  which  have  the  ter- 
mination of  the  comparative  retain  the  distributive  idea  involved 
in  the  notion  of  comparison  :  thus  -luhether  =  which  one  of  two, 
another  =  one  of  two.  "  Love  one  another  "  =  love  one  of  two 
=  one  the  other.  As  the  force  of  the  article  in  another  is  lost, 
such  will  become  the  word  of  closer  definition.  Other  is  also 
used  in  the  plural  as  ofie  is  in  A.S.  and  E.E. 

694.  ?««/e=  portmanteau.  Literally  a  bag  made  of  leather. 
Because  such  bags  are  used  in  transporting  matter  sent  by  post, 
such  matter  is  called  mail,  and  the  bags  by  a  reduplication  are 
called  mail-bags.  So  also  a  "coat  of  mail"  was  originally  a 
coat  of  leather;  cf.  cuirass,  Lat.  corium,  leather. 

695.  Which  that  =^\\\c\\;  which  as.  Which  being  originally 
an  interrogative,  that  may  have  been  added  to  give  it  a  relatival 
force.  Abbott,  Shak.  Gr.  §  250.  But  that  may  here  have  the 
force  of  «5. 


NOTES    TO    THE   PLIOLOOUE.  1 73 

■was  ourc  lady  z'eyl,  literally  =  was  the  veil  of  the  lady  of  us. 
Lady  gen.  for  ladye.     See  note,  1.  88. 

696.  Gobet^a.  small  piece  "And  they  gadered  up  of  the 
gobbetes  thatt  remained."     Matt.  xiv.  20.   (Tyndale). 

697.  Si.  Peter,  &c.     See  Matt.  xiv.  22-33. 
Tvhan  that.     See  note,  1.  i. 

Scan  :  That  sey  |  'nt  Pet  |  er  hadde  |  &c. 

700.  piggcs  boties.  Pretending  that  they  were  the  bones  of 
some  saint.  This  trade  in  relics  is  still  kept  up  at  Rome  in  sj)iti' 
of  all  the  efforts  of  the  church  to  suppress  it. 

701.  But  ^  s.nd  yet.  Notice  the  adversative  force  of  but, 
implying  a  false  pretence. 

702.  divellyyig  iippon  /(?;/«/=  a  parson  living  in  the  country. 
So  used  frequently:  "Land  of  Nod."  Gen.  iv.  16.   Cf.  landscape. 

703.  a  day  ^=  one  day. 
>5/;«, -dative  of  advantage. 

motieye  =  tnont^y.  Lat.  moncta,  a  surname  of  Juno,  in  whose 
temple  money  was  originally  coined.  Others  derive  the  word 
from  monere,  to  advise;  that  is,  gold  or  silver  so  marked  as  to 
advise  one  of  its  value. 

704.  Than  /^rt^=than  that  which.  Abbott  (Shak.  Gr.  §  244) 
suggests  that  the  omission  of  the  relative  arose  from  the  identity 
of  the  demonstrative  that  and  the  relative  that ;  but  it  seems 
more  natural  to  suppose  that  the  relative  that  grew  out  of  the 
demonstrative  that,  so  that  the  construction  without  the  relati\e 
would  be  the  original  construction. 

705.  ivith=hy  or  through.  With  and  by  both  originally 
signified  juxtaposition,  and  thus  easily  came  to  denote  the  rela- 
tion of  cause  and  effect. 

^rt/'er/t' =  flattery  :  connected  with  the  root  of  yfr;/' =  origi- 
nally to  rub  with  the  hand,  or  to  lick  the  hand  as  a  dog  does. 
In  like  manner,  from  the  wagging  of  a  dog's  tail  we  have  our 
word  -.vheedlc. 

706.  Scan  :  the  peopl'  |  his  apes. 

707.  trezvely  to  tellcn  =  to  speak  truly;   to  speak  the  truth. 
atte  taste  ^  at  the  last.     See  note,  1.  29. 

70S.  chtfrche=  (i)  a  building  dedicated  to  the  Lord;  (2)  the 
body  of  worshippers  occupying  the  same;  (3)  those  who  agree 
in  certain  points  of  doctrine  ;  (4)  all  who  believe  in  the  Christian 
faith.     "Church   is  from   the   Greek  KvpianT],  and   signifies  that 


174  NOTES    TO   THE  PROLOGUE. 

which   pertains   to   the  Lord,  or  the  house  which  is  the  Lord's." 
Trench.     This  etymology  is  questioned  by  some. 

a  tioble  ecclesiaste  =  ^x\  ecclesiastic  of  high  standing,  having 
the  same  rank  among  ecclesiastics  that  a  tioble  has  in  society. 

709.  storye=^'a.  story  (abbreviated  from  history),  here  evidently 
alludes  to  passages  from  the  lives  of  saints  which  were  read 
in  divine  service.  Story  (history)  originally  denoted  matters 
learned  by  inquiry,  and  from  the  incredible  narrations  so  fre- 
quently told  by  travellers,  the  word  came  easily  to  signify  a  false 
account,  as  well  as  an  entertaining  narrative. 

710.  «////e/'^c5if  =  best  of  all.  A.S.  allei;  gen.  pi.,  sometimes 
strengthened  to  alder  or  alther.  See  note  on  here  aller,  1.  5S6; 
also  11.  799,  823. 

sang  an  offertories^  intoned  the  sentences  said  or  sung  while 
the  offerings  (aims)  were  being  collected.  A  fine  satire  upon 
his  avarice. 

713.    To  Tiy«;/e  =  to  gain,-   inf.  of  purpose. 

as  he  right  rvel  cowde  refers  to  affyle. 

71^.  Therefore  =^iov  this  reason;  i.e.,  that  he  might  win 
silver. 

715.  clause:  a  portion  of  a  book  or  document  separated  from 
the  rest;  hence  a  "book"  of  a  poem,  a  chapter  or  a  paragraoh, 
a  sentence,  or  even  a  part  of  a  sentence,  separated  by  punc- 
tuation. 

716.  Thestat,  tharray  =  the  estate,  the  array.  This  synco- 
pation is  very  common  in  E.E. 

717.  Why  tJiat^=  why  (it  was)  that. 

719.  highte  =  is  called  :  active  in  form  but  passive  in  meaning. 

faste.  The  original  meaning  of  this  word  seems  to  be  that  of 
fixedness,  strength,  e.g.,  a  fastness  ;  hence  it  denotes  that  which 
is  immovable,  either  physically  or  mentally.  From  this  idea  of 
strength  comes  the  idea  of  contiguity  :  "  Siloa's  brook  that  flowed 
fast  by  the  oracle  of  God."  The  idea  of  closeness  naturally  passes 
into  that  of  rapidity;  hence  vigorous  action. 

/aste  by^  near  to.  By=  near,  \\h\ch  faste  simply  emphasizes 
by  repetition  ;  cLfast  asleep.  "  Abide  here  fast  by  my  maidens." 
Ruth  li.  8.  Hard  is  used  in  the  same  way  for  emphasis,  with 
the  idea  of  proximity;  e.g.,  "Whose  house  joined  hard  to  the 
synagogue."  Acts  xviii.  7.  "  My  soul  foUoweth  hard  after  thee.'' 
Ps.  Ixiii.  8. 


NOTES   TO   THE  PROLOGUE.  175 

720.  is  tyme^^  it  is  the  proper  time.  Tyme  is  the  subject  =  the 
proper  time  is  now. 

to  telle  =^  to  narrate.  Tell^^  to  speak,  takes  the  dative  of  the 
indirect  object. 

721.  I/ozv  t/iat=  in  what  way  it  was  that;  how. 

dare  ?«  =  conducted,  behaved  ourselves;  cf.  dcart'fi^=  de- 
portment. 

722.  a/i^/// ^  alighted.  Verbs  ending  in  t,  preceded  by  a 
consonant,  drop  the  ^/ of  the  pret.,  as  caste  for  casted ;  so  also  in 
the  p.p. 

723.  after  =  hereafter,  afterwards.  After  is  the  comparative 
oi aft,  behind. 

725.  of  your  curtcsic ;  an  adverbial  element,  modifying  rette. 
Pray  takes  two  ace,  —  one  of  the  person,  you;  and  one  of  the 
thing,  that  ye  tie  rette  it,  &c. 

726.  that  ye,  &c.  =  that  ye  do  not  ascribe  it  to  my  ill- 
breeding. 

727.  Though  ///«/  =  though  it  be  that,  although. 

«///<?)/«  =  plainly.  Plain  literally  is  level  {plane);  hence 
without  obstructions  :  "  Lead  me  in  a  plain  path."  Ps.  xxvii.  11. 
Clear,  without  obstruction  to  the  sense :  "They  (words)  are  all 
plain."  Prov.  viii.  9.  Easy  of  approach,  without  formalities: 
"Jacob  was  a  plain  man"  (Gen.  xxv.  27),  here  means  without 
being  checked  by  the  proprieties  of  society. 

729.  properly,  according  as  each  spoke  them.    See  note,  1.  581. 

731.  schal  is  the  oldest  future  auxiliary,  and  is  always  used 
except  where  it  would  be  ambiguous,  implying  constraint  as  well 
as  futurity.  In  the  authorized  version  of  the  Bible  we  often  find 
shall  where  usually  will  would  be  more  idiomatic,  while  will  is 
quite  generally  used  in  the  sense  of  willing  or  wishing.  "  If  thou 
wilt  thou  canst  make  me  clean."  "  I  will,  be  thou  clean."  Mark 
i.  40,  41.  In  the  languages  derived  from  the  Latin,  the  future  is 
formed  by  means  of  habeo  (have),  implying  the  same  idea  of 
necessity.  The  Gothic  uses  have  in  this  sense,  while  in  our 
present  idiom,  as.  an  auxiliary,  it  implies  constraint.  The 
original  force  of  shall  was  that  of  obligation,  in  which  sense  the 
preterite  is  still  used.  It  implies  duty,  and  hence  necessity  of  a 
moral  kind,  equivalent  to  to  oive,  ought.  Will  denotes  simple 
volition,  and  thus  simple  futurity.  It  is  worthy  of  notice,  that 
one  class  of  languages  have  formed  the  notion  of  futurity  from 
the  idea  of  compulsion,   and   the   other   from   that   of  choice. 


176  NOTES   TO   THE  PROLOQUE. 

"The  assertion  of  will,  or  of  duty,  seems  to  have  been  considered 
as  implying,  to  a  certain  extent,  the  power  to  will  or  to  impose 
a  duty.  As  a  man  has  power  to  will  for  himself  only,  it  was 
only  in  the  first  person  that  the  verb  tvill  could  be  used  with  this 
signification.  Again  :  the  power  which  overrides  the  will,  to 
impose  a  duty,  must  proceed  from  external  agency,  and  conse- 
quently 5^«// could  not  be  employed  to  denote  such  power  in  the 
person."  Dr.  Guest,  quoted  in  Craik,  E.  of  S.,  218,  "I  shall, 
you. -will,  and  he  tvill,  are  generally  simply  future  predictions; 
and  xvill  and  shall  are  true  auxiliaries.  I  rvill,  you  shall,  and  he 
shall,  are  expressions  of  determination;  and  lut'll  and  shall  are 
not  true  auxiliaries.  No  very  satisfactory  explanation  of  a  dis- 
tinction apparently  so  arbitrary  has  been  given,  though  some 
ingenious  suggestions  as  to  the  origin  of  it  have  been  offered; 
but,  whatever  foundation  may  once  have  existed  for  this  nicety, 
it  now  answers  no  intellectual  purpose.  There  is  little  risk  in 
predicting  that,  at  no  very  distant  day,  this  verbal  quibble  will 
disappear,  and  that  one  of  the  auxiliaries  will  be  employed  with 
all  persons  of  the  nominative  exclusively  as  the  sign  of  the  future, 
and  the  other  only  as  an  expression  of  purpose  or  authority." 
Marsh,  Lect.  Eng.  Lang.,  659. 

732.  referee  =  rehearse.  "To  rehcrcer,  to  go  over  again  like 
a  harrow  (Fr.  herce)  over  a  ploughed  field."  Morris.  Webster's 
Diet,  says,  "  Probably  from  prefix  re  and  hearsay" 

as  evere  he  can.  Ever  (A.S.  aefer  from  «)  denotes  continu'l  \- 
in  time;  but  in  such  colloquial  expressions  the  word  rather 
denotes  continued  endeavor.  The  expression  =  as  he  may  be 
able  to  at  all  times.     Can  is  not  an  auxiliary  here. 

733.  charge  =  2L.r\.  undertaking.  'L.txS..  carrus,  a  car;  whence 
cargo,  a  load,  and  Fr.  charger,  to  load ;  also  carricare,  to  load 
(whence  caricature).  From  this  root  come  car,  cart,  chariot, 
carry,  8ic.  A  charge  is  therefore  something  to  be  carried, — 
a  burden,  a  commission,  a  solemn  injunction;  also  cost,  debt, 
&c. ;  also  an  accusation  of  crime,  the  disgrace  of  which  one  car- 
ries like  a  burden. 

734.  Al  sp eke  he  ^aXthough  he  may  speak.  The  verb  being 
subj.  needed  no  conjunction. 

nevere  so.  Having  abandoned  the  profusion  of  negatives, 
we  usually  write  "ever  so." 

large  =  coarse,  vulgar.  Compare  the  similar  meanings  of 
gross. 


NOTES    TO    THE   PROLOGUE.  177 

736.  -cvordes  ncwc  =  unfamiliar  words. 

737.  spare  =  refrain  ;  i.e.,  from  rehearsing  as  nigh  as  ever  he 
can. 

ke  were  kis  brother.  He  here  refers  to  the  original  teller  of 
the  storj. 

738.  He  moot.,  &c  ^  He  must  as  well  say  a  word  that  is  im- 
polite as  one  that  is  refined. 

739.  Crist  spak  himself.  This  arrangement  is  still  used  for 
emphasis  as,  "  He  told  me  so  himself." 

fill  ^roo(/e=  avoiding  the  niceties  of  speech.  Many  of  the 
words  used  to  denote  vulgarity  originally  signified  greatness  of 
size,  e.g.,  gross,  coarse,  large,  broad;  while  words  denoting 
«ea/«e55  on  the  contrary  were  taken  from  those  implying  little- 
ness; cf.  cleati,  Ger-  kleiti,  little. 

w;'/^=  writing,  that  which  is  written;  used  at  present  only 
in  the  expression  "Holy  Writ;"  and  to  denote  a  legal  instru- 
ment, as  a  "  writ  of  error." 

740.  ye.,  nom. ;  dat.  and  ace.  you.  See  1.  743.  The  use  o^ you 
in  the  nominative  is  comparatively  recent. 

F/7c/V/>'e^  depraved  discourse,  which  breaks  the  rules  of  good 
breeding.  "In  our  modern  language  it  [depraved  discourse]  is 
termed  villainy,  as  being  proper  for  rustic  boors,  or  men  of 
coarsest  education  and  employment,  who  having  their  minds 
debased  by  being  conversant  in  meanest  afl^airs  do  vent  their 
sorry  passions  in  such  strains."     Dr.  Barrow. 

741.  -whoso  that  can  him  rede  =  \{  that  any  one  can  read  him. 
Who  and  whoso  are  used  indefinitely.     "As  who  should  say." 

Rich.  n.  V.  4. 

"And  am  as  who  saith  loves  knave."      Gower  ii.  131. 
"After  the  flood  fro  which  Noe 
Was  sauf,  the  worlde  in  his  degre 
Was  made  as  who  saith  new  agein."     lb.  ii.  iSi. 

742.  co5>'«=  related  to,  in  keeping  with. 

743-  foryeve  it  ?ne.  Me  dat.  of  indirect  object.  In  A.S.  the 
usual  construction  after  gifan,  forgifan  was  the  dative  of  the 
person  with  the  accusative  of  the  thing.  "And  forgyf  us  ure 
gyltas,  swa  swa  we  forgyfath  urum  gyltendum."     Matt.  vi.  12. 

744.  Al  have  I  nat^  although  I  may  not  have  set,  &c. 

745.  as  that  =  \i\\&rQ  that,  how  that.  The  pronominal  force 
of  as  allows  of  its  use  instead  of  ^vhich  and  where,  as  even  now 
in  some  dialects. 

12 


178  NOTES   TO   THE  PBOLOOUE. 

"  That  gentleness    .  .  asl  was  wont  to  have." 

Jul.  C.  i.  3. 
tkei  schuldc  sio?ide  =  they  ought  to  stand.  Chaucer  forms  all 
the  oblique  cases  of  the  plural  of  the  personal  pronouns  from  the 
Southern  form  ki ;  while  the  nominative,  as  here,  is  formed 
from  the  Northern  thai:  We  have  extended  the  use  of  the  demon- 
strative, and  write  them  instead  o?  hem,  which  we  still  use  in  col- 
loquial speech,  —  pronounced  em. 

746.  5c//(7/'/^  deficient,  wanting.  Still  used  in  this  sense,  as 
"  short  of  funds." 

747.  us  everichon  =  each  one  of  us,  —  dative  of  indirect  object 
^7^i?r/c/<o«  =  ever-each-one,  gives  us  a  distributive  force. 

749.  atte  beste^=^\x\  the  best  manner.     See  note,  1.  29. 

750.  a7id  zvcl  to  drynke  us  leste  ^  and  to  drink  pleased  us  well ; 
i.e.,  it  pleased  us  well  to  drink.  Leste  takes  to  drinke  as  its 
subject,  and  us  as  its  accusative  object. 

751.  cure  hoost  he,  redundant  pronoun.  After  a  subject  which 
has  been  introduced  some  time  before  its  verb,  or  after  a  subject 
with  appositive  clauses,  or  (as  in  this  instance)  when  both  predi- 
cate and  subject  precede  the  verb,  the  subject  pronoun  is  often 
introduced  immediately  preceding  the  verb.  See  Abbott,  Shak. 
Gr.  §§  242,  243,  for  illustrations  of  this  usage  in  Shakspeare. 

Our  host  was  withal  a  man  suitable  to  have  been,  &c. 

752.  marschal  =  marshal  of  the  hall,  —  whose  duty  it  was  at 
public  festivals  to  place  each  person  according  to  his  rank.  We 
still  use  the  word  in  this  sense  when  we  speak  of  the  marshal  of 
a  procession,  and  to  marshal  an  army,  a  host,  &c. 

753.  eygheji  stepe.     See  1.  201  and  note. 

754.  fairere  burgeys^:=2i  more  respectable  citizen. 

C//e/e  =  Cheapside  in  London.  To  cheapest  meant  to  buy, 
Pepys  in  his  Diary  speaks  of  cheapenittg  goods  in  the  market; 
cheap-side,  literally  ^ the  market  place. 

756.  ;«rt«^t'^c^ manhood.  Hede  (hood,  head)  denotes  charac- 
ter or  condition;  e.g.,  childhood,  knighthood,  godhead. 

htm  lahhede^there  lacked  to  him  right  nothing.  Him  is 
dative  after  verbs  oiwant. 

757-  f^ght  a  mery  man  =  just  one  merry  man,  —  a  right  merry 
man. 

758.  playen^^to  make  sport;   inf.  after  bygan. 

759.  «;«o«^e5  =  amongst,  among.  A.S.  on  mang,  from  ;«<?«« 
gian  (Ger.  7nengeti),  to  mix ;  on  mang  would  therefore  literally 


NOTES    TO    THE   PROLOQUE.  179 

=  i?i  a  mixture.  The  superlative  termination  seems  to  have  been 
added  for  the  sake  of  emphasis.  It  is  worth  while  to  note  the 
termmations  of  the  prepositions,  and  observe  whether  they  are 
comparative  or  superlative ;  as,  primarily,  the  comparative  degree 
expresses  relation  between  two  only,  while  the  superlative  ex- 
presses the  widest  possible  relation ;  we  may  observe  the  appli- 
cation of  this  rule  in  all  relational  words.  E.g.  comp.  over^ 
after.,  under.,  for.,  fore.,  before,  Sic.  :  supl.  amidst,  amo)igst,  alongst, 
a.\sofro7n  (old  supl.  tna)  •  also  words  derived  from  the  pronouns ; 
e.g.,  other,  either,  xvhether,  hither,  thither,  &c. 

760.  hadde  maad  our  reke)iynges  =  \\o.d  made  our  reckonings  ; 
i.e.,  had  paid  our  accounts.  "  Howbeit  there  was  no  reckoning 
made  with  them."  2  Kg.  xxii.  7;  i.e.,  there  was  no  formal  set- 
tlement. 

761.  Lo,  an  exclamation  to  call  attention,  usually  ho,  A.S.  la. 
Halloo  is  probably  a  combination  oi  ho  and  la,  or  it  may  be  h-la- 
la,  eala  I 

762.  To  ben.  The  plural  form  aron  {earon^  is  rare  in  A.S. 
It  seems  to  have  arisen  from  a  stem  ar  instead  of  /5,  whence  we 
get  in  the  plural  aron  in  place  of  sindon.  The  influence  of  the 
Danes,  in  whose  language  r  is  quite  frequently  substituted  for  5, 
would  naturally  fix  this  plural  in  use. 

right  xvelcome  hertely=^  right  heartily  welcome. 

763.  //"/;^«^ /sc^a/wo^ //c^  if  so  be  that  I  must  not  lie.  Sckal 
is  here  used  with  its  primary  meaning  of  obligation. 

764    this yeer=d\.\v\ng  this  year,  ace.  of  time. 

766.  zvolde  I  don  you  =  I  would  wish  to  cause  to  you.  To 
cause  is  the  common  meaning  of  do  in  A.S.  and  E.E  ,  and  is  still 
retained  in  certain  phrases:  "I  do  you  to  wit"=I  cause  you  to 
know. 

"Which  some  hath  put  to  shame  and  many  done  be  dead." 

Spenser,  F.  Q^  v.  4,  §  29. 
That  is,  hath  caused  many  to  be  dead. 

don  (inf.)  takes  mirthe,  direct  object  in  ace,  and  you  indirect 
in  dative. 

■wistc  I  ko-iu^=di\<\  I  know  how  =  if  I  knew  how.  JViste  is 
subjunctive.  We  still  use  the  subjunctive  in  such  constructions 
without  a  conjunction.  "  O  had  I  the  wings  of  a  dove."  "  Hadst 
thou  been  here  my  brother  had  not  died."    Jno.  xi.  32. 

767.  by  thought  =^hethought,  reminded.  The  prefix  be  gives 
an  active  signification  to  many  verbs  otherwise  intransitive. 


l8o  NOTES    TO   THE  PROLOGUE. 

768-  To  doon  you  cese.  Gerundial  infinitive  phrase  depend- 
ing upon  mirthe. 

769.  God  you  sfccdc  ^  may  God  prosper  you.  "  Speed  the 
plough." 

770.  quyte  you  youre  meede  =  may  the  blessed  martyr  grant 
you  your  reward. 

martyr-,  literally  =  a  witness  :  early  applied  to  those  who  gave 
testimony  to  their  religion  by  their  death. 

771.  by  the  weye  =  on  the  way.  "Did  not  our  heart  burn 
within  us,  while  he  talked  with  us  by  the  way.?"  Luke 
xxiv.  32. 

772.  Te  schapen  yaw  ^=yoxx  get  yourselves  in  readiness  to  tell 
stories,  &c. 

773.  Scan  :  For  trew  |  ely  |  comfort  |  ne  mirthe  ]  is  noon. 
For  indeed  there  is  no  comfort  or  mirth  in  riding,  &c. 

774.  Scan  :  To  ry  |  de  by  |  the  weye  |  &c. 
To  ryde,  inf.  subject  of /5. 

775.  vjol  I maken^^l  am  willing  (wish)  to  make  some  sport 
for  you. 

776.  do  you  =  c^\x%&  to  you. 

777.  if  you  liketh  alle^'xi  it  please  you  all.  The  subject  of 
likcth  is  the  idea  contained  in  the  next  two  lines,  rather  than  any 
particular  words,  although  to  sta7ide7i  and  to  werken  can  be  so 
construed. 

']']%.  for  to  standen  =  \.o  stand.  In  A.S.  to  was  never  used 
with  the  infinitive,  but  was  used  with  the  dative  gerund;  when 
inflection  was  lost,  this  dative  was  denoted  by  the  preposition 
for  ;  and  when  the  gerund  had  merged  into  the  infinitive  for  to 
(often  written  together  ybr/o,  forte")  was  adopted  as  the  regular 
sign  of  the  infinitive.  "  Is  the  leouere  vorte  beon  Judases  feolawe 
thenjesu  Cristes  fere.-"'  An.  R.  284.  Do  you  prefer  to  ^e  Judas's 
fellow  than  Jesus  Christ's  companion.-' 

779.  for  to  werken  =  to  act,  to  do. 

I  sell  al  you  seye^I  shall  say  to  you,  —  direct  you. 

780.  To- 7no rtve  ^  to-morrow  (the  morrow).  To  in  such  in- 
stances has  grown  out  of  the  demonstrative  pronoun,  e.g.,  to-day, 
to-night;  i.e.,  this  (the)  day;  the  (this)  night. 

781.  By  the  soul  of  my  father,  who  is  dead.  That  refers  to 
fadres.  Such  reference  of  the  relative  is  not  uncommon  in  E.E. 
"Cain's  jawbone  that  did  the  first  murder."  Hamlet.  "And 
this  is  the  Father's  will,  which  hath  sent  me."    Jno.  vi.  39. 


NOTES    TO   THE   PROLOGUE.  l8l 

soule  ^  ^o\x\ :  pronounced  so-vl.  A.S.  sazvl  from  satuan  to 
sow;  hence  the  principle  or  germ  of  life. 

782.  But^=\i  not,  except. 

smytetk  of^  smite  off.  The  usual  termination  of  the  impera- 
tive pi.  was  cth.    A.S.  ath.     See  1.  78S 

(>/=off.  We  have  discriminated  between  these  two  meanings 
by  the  spelling,  —  the  primary  meaning  being  that  of  separation, 
which  is  retained  in  off;  while  of  denotes  the  logical  separation 
implied  in  cause  and  effect  or  origin. 

myn  gen.  of  7c. 

783.  youre  kond^^your  hands.  Strictly  speaking,  we  have 
no  true  possessive  pronouns;  what  we  use  as  possessives  are 
really  genitives.  "My  book"  is  not  liber  meus,  hnt  liber  mci : 
hence  the  noun  need  not  be  in  agreement  with  the  pronoun. 
Toure  is  here  used  with  a  distributive  force  =  each  of  you. 

sfcche.     We  say  "  without  any  further  words." 

784.  Otire  counseil,  consilium  nostri. 

for  io  sccke  =  to  be  sought,  —  a  gerund,  depending  upon  longe; 
as,  "  the  ship  is  ready  to  sail,"   "  the  house  is  ready  to  be  let." 

785.  Us  thoughtc  =  it  seemed  to  us. 

it  zvas  7iat  ivorth  =  it  was  not  worth  while. 

io  make  it  wy5  =  to  make  it  a  matter  of  wisdom  or  delibera- 
tion ;  of.  "  He  made  it  strange  "  =  he  made  it  a  matter  of  diffi- 
culty." 

786.  graimtede.  The  object  is  omitted ;  supply  "  his  propo- 
sition ;  "  him  is  dative  after  verbs  of  giving,  &c. 

787.  bad^=^  desired.  To  seize  is  the  direct  object,  hi7n  dative 
of  indirect.  The  original  signification  of  bid  is  to  pray,  hence 
^crt(/=  prayer.  From  this  meaning  it  passes  to  that  of  com- 
mand; when  offered  by  an  inferior  it  is  a  prayer,  when  by  a 
superior  it  is  a  command.  The  subjunctive  is  used  in  Greek  as 
an  imperative,  according  to  this  principle. 

As  kim  liste  =  iis  it  might  seem  good  to  him. 

7S8.  /lerktiet/i,  imperative;  so  also  taketh  in  next  line. 

for  the  beste  =  finally ;   as  we  say  "  for  good." 

789.  Scan  :  But  tak'th  |  it  not  |  I  praye  |  &c. 
it  refers  to  the  suppressed  object  of  herhneth. 

790.  to  sfcken,  an  independent  clause,  —  to  be  construed  like 
a  dative  absolute. 

791.  to  schorte^  to  shorten  ;  infinitive  of  purpose  after  telle. 
tf^////  =  therewith,  withal.     The  object  of  the  preposition  is 


l82  NOTES   TO   THE  PROLOGUE. 

omitted,  but  can  easily  be  supplied  from  the  context.  "And  he 
took  a  potsherd  to  scrape  himself  withal."  Job  ii.  8;  i.e.,  with 
which  to  scrape  himself. 

792.  tales  itveye.  Only  one  was  told.  Either  these  lines  are 
corrupt  or  the  plan  of  the  work  was  left  incomplete.  If  we  read 
other  too  (an  other  too)  for  other  tzvo,  so  that  the  lines  would 
mean  "  each  shall  tell  two  tales,  —  one  going  to  Canterbury  and 
another  coming,"  —  we  would  perhaps  have  an  easy  explanation 
of  the  ditficulty.  Other  was  regularly  used  for  second  in  A.S. 
This  view  seems  to  be  sustained  by  "  I  mene  it  so,"  1.  793. 

793.  ward  =  a  suffix  denoting  situation,  direction,  either 
physical  or  (figuratively)  intellectual;  often  used  with /o  as  a 
strengthened  form.  "  Thy  thoughts  which  are  to  us  ward."  Ps. 
xl.  5.  "  His  works  have  been  to  thee  ward  very  good."  i  Sam- 
xix.  4.  "  The  grace  of  God  .  .  .  to  you  ward."  Eph.  iii.  2.  "To 
the  mercy  seat  ward."  Ex.  xxxvii.  9;  cf.  toward,  forward,  up- 
ward, (Sic. 

/  ;«e«e  «V  50  =  that  is  to  say.  It  is  redundant.  Shakspeare 
has  "foot  it,"  "queen  it,"  Milton  "trip  it  as  you  go."  This  use 
is  now  confined  to  colloquial  language. 

795.  han  bifalle  =  have  happened.  "  It  fell  on  a  day."  When 
followed  by  an  object  this  verb  takes  the  dative;  it  is  therefore 
usually  called  transitive. 

796.  which  of  you  /^a/ =  whoever,  with  something  of  a  de- 
monstrative force  added,  as  though  =  "  that  one  of  you  which." 
This  construction  is  common  in  Chaucer.  As  which  was  orig- 
inally an  interrogative,  that  may  have  been  added  to  give  a 
relatival  force. 

/5/;m  =  himself.  The  A.S.  had  —  and  consequently  the  Eng- 
lish has —  no  reflexive  pronoun.  We  change  the  personal  pro- 
nouns into  reflectives  by  the  addition  of  self,  which  was  origi- 
nally an  emphatic  but  not  a  reflexive  form. 

797.  That  is  to  seyn.  That  refers  to  the  previous  sentence; 
to  seyn  is  predicate. 

in  this  caas  =  under  these  circumstances. 

798.  se7itence  and  most  5o/«5=the  most  instructive  and  the 
most  amusing.  Sentetice  here  refers  to  the  ideas,  or  thought  of 
the  story.  A  grammatical  sentence  is  so  called  because  it  ex- 
presses a  complete  thought. 

779.  at  youre  alther  cost  ^=  at  the  cost  of  you  all.  Toure,  gen- 
pi.  oiyou  ;  alther  gen.  pi.  of  «//. 


NOTES    TO   THE  PROLOGUE.  183 

800.  Here  hi  this  place;  i.e.,  at  his  hostelry:  the  idea  is  re- 
peated for  emphasis. 

post.  See  note  1.  214.  The  doorpost  of  his  inn,  or  perhaps 
the  post  in  front  of  liis  house.  Dealers  chalked  the  debts  of  their 
customers  upon  the  doorposts ;  hence  the  phrase  "  to  post  ac= 
counts."  Sheriffs  had  posts  before  their  doors  upon  which  proc- 
lamations were  affixed;  hence  the  phrase  "to  post  a  person  as 
a  coward." 

801.  we  cowc  =  we  shall  come.  The  A.S.  has  no  inflected 
future  tense,  but  regularly  used  the  present  instead. 

802.  t/ie  more  tnery.  The  is  here  the  instrumental  case  of  the 
demonstrative,  and  corresponds  to  hoiv ;  it  is  usually  called  an 
adverb.  It  is  equivalent  to  the  Lat.  co,  by  that,  by  so  much.  It 
is  hardly  necessary  to  say  that  this  the  must  be  carefully  distin- 
guished from  the  article. 

803.  /  wo/ =  I  wish.  "  I  will  that  thou  give  me  .  .  .  the  head 
of  John  the  Baptist."    Mk.  vi.  25. 

myselvc?i  =  for  myself,  dative  sometimes  called  ethical. 

805.  zvtthseie  =  gainsay,  oppose.  JVi'tA  originally  signifies 
juxtaposition,  which  of  course  may  imply  opposition,  which 
sense  it  usually  retains  in  compounds,  as  ■vuUhstand. 

809.  therefore  =  for  this  —  there  being  the  dative  of  the  de- 
monstrative. 

7«e  =  myself.     See  note  1.  796. 

810.  oure  othes  szuore  =  we  swore  our  oaths.  The  subject  is 
omitted;  it  must  be  supplied  here  and  with  prayeden  in  the  next 
line.  As  the  inflections  of  the  second  and  third  persons  singular 
are  retained,  they  most  readily  drop  the  nominative;  the  other 
persons,  ending  alike,  become  indistinguishable  if  the  pronouns 
or  subjects  are  omitted,  and  hence  suffer  the  omission  less  fre- 
quently. 

swore.  From  the  meaning  (i)  to  aflSrm,  stvear  passes  to  mean 
(2)  affirming  solemnly,  or  under  oath,  and  (3)  to  appealing  to 
God  as  a  witness  of  the  truth  of  the  statement;  and  (4)  to  such 
appeals  in  a  blasphemous  manner. 

812.  After  the  pres.  indie,  we  use  the  present  infinitive  objec- 
tively; e.g.  "We  pray  you  to  vouchsafe  us;"  in  narration  of 
past  events,  the  pres.  indie,  becomes  a  preterite,  and,  instead 
of  the  past  infinitive,  we  may  use  a  subjunctive  sentence  after 
that ;  if  the  prayer  was  refused,  we  would  still  use  the  present 
inf.;  e.g.,  "We  prayed  him  to  vouchsafe,"  —  but  he  refused. 


184  NOTES   TO   THE  PROLOGUE. 

813.  oure,  plural  as  shown  by  final  c,  and  cannot  agree  with 
governour ;  it  is,  therefore,  genitive. 

815.  sctte,  prepare;  cf.  "set  the  table." 

At  a  certeyn  frys  =  at  a  fixed  price,  —  at  a  price  determined 
oeforehand.  This  precaution  may  have  been  suggested  by  tJie 
payment  of  their  bills. 

816.  reivlcd  =  ruled.  The  peculiar  sound  of  u  in  rule  is  indi- 
cated by  the  vowel  w.  The  word  was  formerly  spelled  riwle ; 
so  Jews,  Giivs. 

817.  /«  heigh  and  lozvc  =  in  all  things.  Such  expressions  are 
common  in  E.E.  to  denote  completeness. 

"  Don  we  hit  wolleth 
Ludc  and  stille 

Al  the  kinges  wille."     Layamon,  i.  156. 
By  oon  assent  =  with  one  consent,  unanimously. 
819.  therupon,  literally  =  up  on  this  (either  place  or  time). 
the  xvyn  was  fct  =  the  wine  was  brought.     Drinking  upon  the 
conclusion  of  a  contract  is  still   a  custom  in  many  places;  cf. 
drink-penny  =  earnest-money. 

823.  oure  althcr  ^  o^  \\%  all,  gen.  pi. 

cok=^  leader,  — gathering  his  company  as  a  cock  gathers  and 
leads  his  hens. 

824.  togidrc,  together.  To  has  an  intensive  force,  as  in  verbs 
io-break,  &c. 

alle-,  in  apposition  with  us. 

Scan  :  and  gad  |  rede  us  |  to-gidr'  |  alle  in  |  a  flok. 

825.  paas  =  foot  pace.  "  A  fas  with  Chaucer  means  always, 
I  believe,  a  foot  pace."  T.  A  little  more  than  pace  =  a  little 
faster  than  a  walk. 

826.  the  ivaterynge  of  seint  Thomas,  —  "  a  place  for  watering 
horses,  I  suppose,  a  little  out  of  the  borough  of  Southwark,  on 
the  road  to  Canterbury."     T. 

827.  bt'gan  —  areste  =  halted.  Bt'gan,  literally  =  began,  but 
is  here  used,  as  it  is  quite  commonly  in  E.E.,  as  an  auxiliary  = 
did  ;  usually  abbreviated  to  ga7i. 

"And  thanne  gan  alle  the  comune  crye  in  vers  of  Latin." 

P.P.  Pro.  143. 
*'  His  blisse  gan  he  tyne ;  "  i.e.,  did  he  lose. 

lb.  i.  112. 
As  the   strict  meaning  of  do  =  to  cause,  the  construction  with 
this  auxiliary  would  be  the  same. 


NOTES    TO    THE   PROLOGUE.  1 85 

829.  I  it  you  recorde  =  I  remind  jou  of  it,  — double  ace. 
rccorde,  actively  =  to  reinind;   reflexiveij  ^  to  call  to  mind, 

to  remember.    Hence  also  to  place  facts  where  thej  can  be  called 
to  mind;  i.e.,  on  record. 

830.  evensong  and  morive-song=e.\ex\\x\^  song  and  inorning 
song;  i.e.,  vespers  and  matins, — evidently  a  proverb. 

831.  Z,rt/ 5e  =  let  us  see  ;  literally,  permit  us  to  see,  —  «5  being 
dative  Let  is  one  of  the  few  verbs  which  retain  tiie  old  con- 
struction with  the  infinitive  without  the  preposition  to. 

■who  sc/tul  telle  =  who  must  tell, — whose  place  it  is  to  tell. 
If  -will  were  used  here  the  sense  would  be  quite  diflerent. 

832.  I  moot  :=  I  may.  A.S.  Ic  mot.  A  burlesque  imprecation 
well  suited  to  the  host's  calling. 

833.  Wkoso  be^^N\\o^ve.Y  may  he, — shall  be:  we  would  per- 
haps say  "whoever  is."  The  subj.  makes  this  =  if  any  one  shall 
be  rebel  ke  shall  pay. 

834.  is  spent  -=  is  to  be  spent,  —  shall  be  spent. 

835.  farther  =  further ;   from  the  root  fore, 
tivynne^  to  proceed  in  different  directions. 

"  Yet  can  I  make  other  folk  to  twinne 
From  avarice."     CT.  12,364. 
"  Leoue  ureond  beoth  sorie  hwon  heo  schulen  twinnen."    An.  R. 
396.     Dear  friends  are  sad  when  they  must  part. 

836.  Which  that  =^v^h\eh  ;  whoever  it  may  be  that. 

838.  ner  for  ;/er;'e  =  nearer.  Near  is  strictly  the  comparative 
of  A.S.  7ieahi  nigh,  as  next  is  the  superlative.  We  have  taken 
this  comparative  as  a  new  base,  and  compare  it  as  tiiough  it  were 
a  positive  ;  so  that  nearer  {tieah-er-er^  is  really  a  double  compar- 
ative, while  next  (A.S.  7ieahst)  has  lost  all  conscious  relation 
with  near. 

840.  /«^  ^e,  &c.  =  cease  your  shamfastness;  cf.  the  colloquial 
expression  "  let  me  be." 

schamfastnesse^  modesty.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  we  have 
given  a  false  idea  to  this  beautiful  word  by  a  vicious  orthography, 
—  sha7nefacedness.  The  termination  is  fast,  fixed,  as  in  stead- 
fast =  fixed  in  place, y^s^  asleep  ==  fixed  in  sleep.  The  Old  Eng- 
lish soothfast,  truthful,  is  also  unfortunately  obsolete.  Shame 
^5/=  fixed  in  modesty. 

841.  A^e=and  not,  like  Lat.  ne. 

ley  to.  In  modern  English  when  verbs  and  prepositions  are 
compounded,  the  preposition  usually  stands  last,  like  the  sepa 


l86  NOTES    TO   THE  PROLOGUE. 

rable  prepositions  in  German,  unless  the  two  have  coalesced  into 
a  new  idea,  so  that  the  force  of  the  preposition  is  no  longer  dis- 
tinctly recognized.  Such  prepositions  are  usually  erroneously 
classed  as  adverbs.  Inattention  to  the  true  construction  of  the 
preposition  has  occasioned  this  error,  and  not  infrequently  an 
entire  misconception  of  certain  expressions,  as  "  and  all  to-brake 
his  skull."  Judges  ix.  53.  Here  all  (properly  alle,  adverbial 
dative)  is  an  adverb  emphasizing  the  verb.  To  adds  the  idea  of 
completeness  in  this  case.  In  other  cases  it  has  its  true  prepo- 
sitional force;  e.g.,  "  He  that  hath  received  his  testimony  hath 
set  to  (set-to)  his  seal  that  God  is  true."  John  iii.  33.  Set-to 
=  affixed.  Ley-to  is  here  the  A.S.  to-lecga?i,  and  is  used  pre- 
cisely as  set-to  in  the  passage  quoted. 

There  is  here  a  fine  touch  of  humor  in  the  implied  fact  that 
all  except  the  Knight,  the  Prioress,  and  the  Clerk,  pressed  for- 
ward to  "draw  cuts,"  while  these  three  hung  back  through  a 
native  modesty. 

846.  zvht'ck  refers  to  the  fact  stated  in  the  former  sentence, 
and  not  to  any  particular  word. 

847.  as  was  resonn^  as  was  reasonable. 

848.  By  =  according  to- 
composicioun  =  agreement. 

"  I  crave  our  composition  may  be  written."     Shak. 
Resoiin  and  Composicioun  are  still  French  words  to  Chaucer, 
as  is  shown  by  the  accent. 

849.  iv/iat  needeth  tvordes  ;«oo  =  what  need  is  there  of  more 
words?  literally,  as  to  what  (why)  does  it  [to  show  this]  need 
more  words .'' 

iv/iat,  ace,  used  adverbially  like  Lat-  quid. 

nccdeth^  impersonal.  "  The  impersonal  tiecds  [needeth] 
(which  must  be  distinguished  from  the  adverbial  genitive  needs') 
...  is  often  found  with  what,  where  it  is  sometimes  hard  to  say 
whether  -what  is  an  adverb  and  need  a  verb,  or  zvhat  an  adjective 
and  need  a  noun."  Abbott,  Shak  Gr.  §  297.  In  this  case  the 
termination  (changed  in  Shakspeare  to  5  and  dropped)  indicates 
the  verbal  character  o?  needeth,  and  the  construction  is  clear. 

851.  As  he  that  zuys  ivas ;  i.e.,  as  he  who  was  wise  and  ready 
to  keep  his  promise  of  his  own  free  will  would  say,  so  he  said. 

854.  What!  an  exclamation.      Why  is  used  similarly. 
a  Goddes  name  =  in  God's  name  ;  a  =  in. 

855.  herkneth  -vhat=^  listen  to  what.     This  use  of  hearken  as 


NOTES    TO   THE  PROLOGUE.  187 

a  transitive  verb,  although  frequent  in  Milton  and  Shakspeare, 
is  now  obsolete. 

856.  wi'i/e  has  here  nearly  its  original  force  of  immediate  jux- 
taposition. 

ridcn-forth^  to  be  taken  together.     Cf.  forth-going. 
■weyc^  ace,  of  cognate  signification.     Cf.   "  to  go  a  journey," 
"to  dream  a  dream." 

857.  right  a  nicric  chere^W\\h  a  right  merry  countenance. 
"This  usage  [inserting  a]  is  found  in  the  earlier  text  of  Lay- 
amon  (a.d.  1200),  '  long  a  time  (longe  ane  stunde),'  ii.  290,' 
where  the  adjective  appears  merely  to  be  emphasized  and  not 
used  adverbially.  In  the  later  text  the  adjective  is  placed  here 
and  in  other  passages  in  its  ordinary  position."  Abbott,  Shak. 
Gr.,  §  85. 


NOTES   TO   THE    KNIGIITES    TALE. 


NOTES  TO  THE  KNIGHTES  TALE. 


2.  ^«^  =  duke,  king;  literally,  leader.  Titles  of  rank  were 
nearly  all  of  military  origin. 

5.  That  grcttere,  &c.  =that  there  was  none  greater. 

6.  Contrc.  See  note,  p.  216.  Accented  here  on  the  first 
syllable;   in  1.  11,  on  the  last. 

7.  That  refers  to  swich,  1.  4. 

9.  Cithea  =  Scythia. 

10.  he.  Subject  inserted,  although  the  sentence  is  connected 
to  the  preceding  by  and.  When  a  proper  name  is  separated  from 
the  verb,  or  when  from  the  number  of  conjunctional  sentences 
the  connection  would  be  obscure,  the  redundant  pronoun  sub- 
ject is  often  inserted.     See  Abbott,  Shak.  Gr.  §§  242,  243. 

12.  moche  g'lorie^^  great  g\ory.     Much  when  used  alone  has 
now  rather  a  collective  sense,  a  great  number,  a  great  amount. 
14.  Scan  :  And  thus  |  with  vie  |  tor'  i'and  |  &c. 

16.  ^052'  =  army.     Lat.  ,^<75//5,  an  enemy. 

aniics  =  v!evt.^ons.  "As  the  arm  itself  is  the  natural  weapon 
of  offence,  it  is  possible  that  the  word  «;-;«  in  the  sense  of  weapon 
may  be  simply  an  application  of  the  same  word."  Wedgwood. 
See  note  P.,  iii. 

17.  iVi? re  ==  ne  were  ^  were  not. 

/o^too,  in  addition.  To  and  too  are  differences  in  spelling 
the  same  word.  From  the  idea  of  w^Z-dition  implied  in  to,  we 
gain  the  idea  oi  too. 

To  heere.     Gerundial  inf. 

21.  for  the  fiones.     See  note  P.,  379. 

26.  Tempest,  a  time  specially  to  be  remembered.  See  note 
P.,  406.     Tyrwhitt  reads  temple. 

hoom  comynge.     Can  be  construed  as  a  compound  noun. 

27.  as  »ozv^^(or  the  present,  however;  cf.  Lat.  utctmque. 


192  NOTES   TO   THE  KNIOHTES    TALE. 

28.  Goff  wo/ =  God  knows  ;  a  mild  form  of  asseveration. 
e^e=  plough.     Earth  is   from    this   root.     "I  have   a  rough 

valley  which  is  neither  eared  nor  sown."     Deut.  xxi.  4.     "I  have 
an  half  acre  to  erje."     P.P.  vi.  4. 

29.  in  my  plough  =  attached  to  my  plough.  We  use  on  in 
similar  constructions. 

31.  I  vjol  not  letie,  &c.  =  I  desire  not  to  hinder  any  one  of  all 
this  company. 

Leite,  inf.  after  wol. 

eek  non  =  none  at  all :  literally,  "  also  no  one." 

32.  aboute  =  in  his  turn. 

33.  lat  see  =  \Qtni  see.  Pronoun  omitted,  or  coalesced  with 
verb,  as  though  lat  s'see. 

34.  ther  I  lafte  =  where  I  left  off. 

37.  J7ioste  pryde  =  greatest  pride. 

38.  He  zvas  war  =  he  was  aware.  War  denotes  those  habits 
implying  caution,  as  looking  around,  also  the  results  of  such 
circumspection,  knowledge;  cf.  avjare,  beware,  wary. 

caste,  pret.     Verbs  ending  in  t  are  often  thus  abbreviated. 

39.  hye  weye  =  highway.  High  refers  not  to  altitude,  but  to 
prominence,  —  opposed  to  by-w&y.  So  A.S.  hcah  synti  =  a  great 
sin,  and  English  high  sea. 

40.  tweye  and  tzveye  =  two  and  two  ;  by  twos. 

41.  Ech  after  other  =  (each)  one  after  another.  Other  is  not 
now  used  in  such  constructions  without  the  article.  Other  is  in 
form  comparative  and  strictly  means  the  second  of  two,  and 
thus  in  A.S.  is  frequently  used  where  we  use  second ;  cf.  Lat. 
alter  =  secundus. 

43.  creature,  trissyllable. 

44,  That  herde  =  that  ever  heard. 

such  another  =  cinother  such.  We  say  s«c^  a,  but  not  such 
another,  because  of  the  duality  implied  in  another;  if  the  dis- 
tributive force  of  another  had  been  retained,  the  old  form  would 
be  more  correct;  cf.  many  a.     See  note,  P.  168. 

48.  Pertourben  ■=  disturb.  We  have  retained  the  noun  per- 
turbation, but  the  verb  is  obsolete. 

50.  that  thus  =  that  ye  thus,  &c.  That  correlates  with  so  in 
the  preceding  line. 

52.  telleth,  imp.  And  tell  me  (what  is  the  matter)  if  it  is 
any  thing  that  may  be  amended. 

53.  And  why  =  tell  me  why. 


NOTES    TO    THE   KNIUUTES    TALE.  193 

al  in  blak  =  wholly  in  black. 

56.  Routke=^¥,oxxo\vi\x\\  Y\\.QX^.\\y  sorroiv.  Ji'ft//ilcss  is  current, 
but  r/t^/i  is  obsolete. 

Jor  to  seen  or  kecre,  geriindiul  inf.  trislc  visa,  auditiique. 

57.  Fortune-     Personified  as  the  goddess  of  Fortune. 
59.   Nought  =  no  'cu/iit  =  in  no  respect,  ace.  of  measure. 

62.  thurg  ^  through. 

63.  7y^ccc//<'(/c  =  wretched.  A.S.  ivraec,  banished,  zvr<iccca, 
an  exile.  What  an  intense  patriotism  is  summed  up  in  this 
designation  of  the  exile  as  the  wretch!  As  these  women  had 
been  banished,  the  word  retains  its  original  force. 

65.  T/iat  schc  =  who  ;  cf.  that  he,  P.  43-45  ;  that  his  =  whose, 
K.  1S52.  This  use  of  the  demonstrative  with  that  is  common  in 
A.S. ;  e.g.,  the  7ve  =  we  ;  thu  the  =  who  ;  the  he  =  who ;  the  his  = 
whose  ;  the  hitn,  to  whom,  &c.     See  March,  A.S.  Gram.  §  380,  2. 

66.  //  is  wcl  seene  =  it  is  easily  seen,  —  it  is  easy  to  see. 

67.  Wheel,  The  w^t't'/ of  Fortune  alludes  to  the  mutability 
of  her  favor. 

68.  Who  assures  no  condition  to  continue  prosperous. 

69.  rt^/(/e;/ =  await.  The  active  force  of  the  prefix  is  lost; 
bide  is  now  active,  as  "bide  one's  time,"  while  abide  is  usually 
neuter. 

70.  Scan  :  Here  in  |  the  tempi'  |  of  the  |  goddesse  |  Clemence. 

71.  al  this  fourtenight  =  fully  this  fortnight.  The  A.S.  reck- 
oned time  by  nights  and  winters. 

72.  syth  =  since.  "  Sith  thou  hast  not  hated  blood."  Ezek. 
XXXV.  6. 

73-  I ivreccke  =  I  the  wretch. 

which  that  ==  who. 

75.  cursed.     See  note,  P.  655. 

78.  IVe  losten  alle  =  we  all  lost.  "  In  many  things  we  oft'end 
all."    Jas.  iii.  2. 

79.  ther  aboute  =  thereabout;  literally,  about  this. 

80.  And  yet,  notwithstanding  what  we  have  already  suftered. 

81.  Who  is  now  lord  of  the  city  Thebes. 

83.  for  despyt=  because  of  his  malice. 

84.  To  do  vileinye  =  to  cause  disgrace  to.  Do  is  here  used 
causatively,  —  "  do  you  to  wit." 

vileinye  =  the  act  of  a  villain;  that  which  marks  a  vin«''n. 
disgrace. 

S5.    Of  alle  oure  lordes,  limits  bodies,  in  next  line. 

13 


194  NOTES   TO   THE  KNI0HTE8   TALE. 

90.  ■withoute  more  respite,  without  further  delay. 

91.  They  fillen  griif^Wx^y  ioW  flat  on  the  ground.  Gruf=^ 
on  the  ground.  "On  the  groffe"  =  flat  on  the  ground.  We 
find  also  grubbliiigs  =  with  the  face  downward.  The  root  is 
probably  to  be  found  in  the  Danish  grabbelcn,  to  crawl,  Eng. 
grovel. 

94.  courser^  horse;  literally,  a  runner;  hence,  a  fleet  horse; 
also  a  horse  used  in  hunting.  "  Un  cheval  cotirsier,  c'est  a  dire  un 
cheval  r^servd  a  la  course,  par  opposition  aux  chevaux  de  trait." 
Brachet,  165. 

96.  Him  thought  =  it  seemed  to  him.     See  note  P.,  37. 

99,  he  hem   a  He  up  he7ite  =  he  took  them  all  up. 

100.  iti  fill  good  etiteiite  =  with  very  kind  intention. 

102.  He  tvolde  don  =  he  would  endeavor.  Do  is  here  used 
causatively. 

ferforthly  his  might  =  according  to  his  might.  Might  must 
be  construed  as  dative  after  the  implied  comparative. 

104.    That,  correlative  oi so,  1.  102. 

106.  As  he  that  =  as  one  who.  He  that  =  who.  For  this  in- 
definite use  o(  zuho  see  note  P.,  741. 

108.  bauer:^  banner.  "  The  origin  is  in  all  probability  Goth. 
bafidvo,  bandva,  a  sign,  token,  an  intimation  made  by  benditig 
the  head  or  hand.  The  original  object  of  a  standard  is  to  serve 
as  a  mark  or  sign  for  the  troop  to  rally  round,  and  it  was  accord- 
ingly very  generally  known  by  a  name  having  that  signification  " 
Wedgwood. 

dcsplayeth  =  displays.  Displaying  the  banner  was  the  signal 
for  the  troops  to  assemble  for  military  service. 

109.  byside  =  n&'^r  \  with  him.  Here  used  adverbially,  unless 
we  supply  the  pronoun. 

111.  Nor  take  his  ease  a  whole  half  dav.  7^«//y  qualifies  half 
used  adjectively. 

112.  But  o/nvard^hut  at  a  distance  on  his  way. 

117.  Scan  :  The  reed  |  e  stat  |  u'of  Mars  |  «&c. 

118.  his;  i  e.,  Theseus's. 

119.  fceldes  =  the  fields  or  open  spaces  of  the  banner.  Some 
take  the  word  to  mean  folds. 

120.  pynoun  =  pennon.  The  banner  was  the  standard  of  the 
army;  the  pennon  was  the  personal  signal  of  the  leader. 

121.  Of  gold  fill  riche.  A. S.  gen.  of  material ;  modifies  «-3c/*. 
In  which  there  was  forged  of  gold  full  rich  the  Minotaur. 


NOTES    TO    THE   KNWJITES    TALE.  195 

/-3e^e  =  beaten.     "Probably  stamped;   that  operation  being 
anciently,  I  .suppose,  performed  by  the  hammer."     Tyrwhitt. 
124.  And  the  flower  of  chivalry  (rides)  in  his  host. 
Noosi=  host.     Lat.  host  is,  an  enemy. 

126.  ke  thoughte  fighte^=\\'i.  purposed  to  fight.  Thought  is 
from  A.S.  thencan ;  the  intransitive  thought-,  followed  by  the 
dative,  is  from  thincati. 

127.  But,  to  speak  briefly,  he  fought  with  Creon,  who  was 
king  of  Thebes. 

129.  as  a  knight^  like  a  knight.  As  is  a  contraction  oi all-so, 
with  the  sense  oi  just  as,  Just  so. 

130.  lu  pleyn  battaille  =  in  open  battle. 
putte,  p.  of  put. 

135.  To  don  eptcquies  =  to  perform  funeral  rites. 

136.  al  to  loiige^^  too  tedious. 

139.  bodycs.  A.S.  bodig  generally  means  stature,  and  is  but 
rarely  used  to  designate  the  body.  "The  primary  sense  of  body 
is  the  thick  round  part  of  the  living  frame,  as  distinguished  from 
the  limbs  or  lesser  divisions;  then  the  whole  material  frame  as 
distinguished  from  the  sentient  principle  by  which  it  is  ani- 
mated."    Wedgwood. 

146.  as  him  leste^^  as  it  pleased  him. 

148.  streepe=:  to  strip.  A.S.  be-sttypati ;  cf.  stripe,  strip, 
strap,  strop.  The  original  idea  of  the  verb  is  to  pull  off  strips; 
hence  applied  to  plundering  the  dead  b}'  taking  off  their  cloth- 
ing; also  figuratively  to  a  stripping  of  the  living,  which  leaves 
them  equally  bare. 

herneys^=:iYmoY.     See  note  P.,  114. 

we^/e^  clothing.  Still  retained  in  "widows'  weeds,"  and 
from  this  restriction  to  mourning  attire,  noting  also  an  emblem 
of  mourning  worn  upon  a  man's  hat.  Weed,  a  noxious  plant, 
is  probably  from  the  Dutch  wieden,  to  cleanse,  although  Trench 
says,  "  '  Weeds '  were  whatever  covered  the  earth  or  the  person." 
Eng.  Past  and  Pres.,  253. 

149.  pilours.     See  notes  P.,  177,  627. 

dide7i  business  and  cure  =  exercised  diligence  and  care.  To 
ransake,  1.  147,  depends  upon  this  verb. 

151.  And  so  byjil^  and  so  it  happened. 

152.  Thurgh-girt  =^^iQrcQd  through.  An  ox  is  said  to  gird 
with  his  horns. 

153.  by-and-by=^  close  to  each  other,  —  one  after  the  other. 


196  NOTES    TO    THE   KNIUIITES    TALE. 

"  Of  that  the  planetes  by  and  by 
How  that  they  stonde  upon  the  sky." 

Gower  iii.  116. 
'•By  and  by  he  is  ollended  ;  "'    i.e.,    immediately.     Matt.  xiii.  21. 
Morris  explains  by  and  by  ^  separately,  whieh  seems  to  me  erro- 
neous, as  the  original  force  of  by  is  near. 

1^4.  hi  uoii  rt/v/av;  =  with  the  same  armorial  device.  Arms, 
in  the  plural  denoting  a  singular  idea  is  construed  in  the  sin- 

155.  that  ooii  =  the  one ;  in  which  case  t/ie  retains  its  original 
demonstrative  force  :  so  t/iat  other  =  the  other. 

157.  Nat  fully  quykc  =  not  fully  alive.  "  Let  them  go  down 
quick  (alive)  into  hell."     Ps.  Iv.  15. 

Ne  fully  deede=  nor  fully  dead.     Neither  dead  nor  alive. 

1159.  i/crff«^(?5  =  heralds.  An  officer  whose  duty  it  was  to 
record  the  arms  of  the  nobility.  From  hcri-,  an  army,  and  xval- 
tc?i,  to  manage. 

in  special  =^  especially. 

161.  .'f/iZ/'ew  =  sisters  ;  still  sometimes  heard  in  vulgar  use;  cf. 
brethren-,  an  analogous  plural  in  eti. 

162.  torn  implies  rapid  rather  than  violent  action. 
164.  fill sone  =  very  soon,  at  once. 

166.  he  nolde  =  he  would  not  (take)  any  ransom.  Nolde  = 
ne  ivolde  =  wished  not. 

171.    Tcrme  of  his  lyf=  to  the  end  of  his  life.     Lat.  terminus. 

■what  fieedeth  -wordes  moo  =  what  need  is  there  of  more  words. 
Literally,  "As  to  what  does  it  need  more  words .-'" 

176.  Til  it  fcl  oones  =  till  it  happened  on  a  time. 
In  a  morivc  =  on  a  morning. 

177.  to  scene  =  to  see. 

180.  %vith  the  rose  colour  =  \N\i\\.  the  colour  of  the  rose.  Rose 
is  genitive;  cf.  I^adye grace.     P.,  88. 

Strof  hire  hezve^  vied  her  complexion 

i8i.  I  not  =  I  ne  zvot  =  I  know  not. 

183.  redy.  A.S.  rad,  quick,  ready;  covaY>.  rather.  So  E.E. 
?-a/^e,  early.     "  The  rathe  primrose."     Milton. 

1S5.    The  sesoun priketh ;  cf.  P.,  11. 

186.  him,  grammatically,  refers  to  herte ;  logically,  to  the  per- 
son figuratively  designated  by  herte. 

187.  do  their  observance  =  perform  religious  rites.  Here 
spoken  of  as  performed  in  honour  of  May. 


NOTES   TO   THE  KNI0HTE8   TALE.  197 

1S8.  "This  caused  Emily  to  liave  remembrance  (to  remem- 
ber) to  do  honor  to  May."  This  circumlocution  is  frequent  in 
the  Bible. 

190.  /or  to  devyse  =  to  describe  (her).  The  different  descrip- 
tive clauses  depend  upon  to  devyse.  Morris  points  —  I-clothcd 
was  sche  fresshe  for  to  devyse. 

192.  yerde  =  a  yard  long.     See  note  P.,  149. 

193.  Sonne  upriste  =  the  sun's  uprising.     Sonne  is  gen. 

194.  as /lire  listen  as  it  may  please  her.  L/stc  is  here  used 
impersonally.     See  note  P.,  102. 

^95-  peirty  =  partly.     Yx.  en  partic ;  c'(.  particolored. 

196.  Sotil  =  subtle.  The  Latin,  subtilis,  denotedyfwe  -woven; 
hence  delicately  constructed,  or  denoting  ingenuity,  which  is 
the  meaning  here.  Metaphorically,  it  is  used  in  a  good  sense 
=  acute ;  in  a  bad  sense  =  sly. 

gerland=  garland,  a  crown  or  wreath. 

199.  dongeoun  —  not  noting  a  dark  subterranean  place  of  con- 
finement, as  now,  but  simply  a  place  of  security.  The  origin  of 
the  word  is  the  Lat.  domnio  for  domtnio.  Sometimes  spelled 
donjon;  cf  the  Celtic  dun,  a  fortress. 

200.  Thcr  as  =  where. 

201.  Of  w/iic/i,  &c.  =  of  whom  I  have  already  told  you,  and 
shall  tell  more. 

202.  evene  Joytiyng=  exactly  joining, —  so  that  the  prison 
joined  the  garden  wall. 

gardeyn  zval.  The  genitive  force  of  the  first  of  the  two  nouns 
joined  is  shown  by  the  reference  of  as  to  gardeyn  =  to  the  wall 
of  the  garden  where.  &c. 

203.  /ladde  hire  fleyynge  =  had  her  play-ground,  —  was  accus- 
tomed to  take  her  exercise. 

205.  %voful=^{\x\\  of  wo,  or  sorrow. 

206.  by  leve  of  his  gaylcr  =  by  permission  of  his  jailer. 

/et;g  =  leave,  permission.  A.S.  leaf  which  is  still  the  collo- 
quial pronunciation. 

207.  romede  =  roamed.  This  word  has  a  curious  history  ;  it 
is  derived  from  the  name  of  the  city  Rome,  and  probably  first 
came  into  use  as  a  noun,  — Romar  being  one  who  was  a  pilgrim 
to  that  Holy  City.  So  in  Pier's  PI.  iv.  120,  we  find  :  "And  relig- 
ious romares  recordare  in  here  cloistres."  The  habits  of  these 
pilgrims  were  not  generally  very  creditable,  and  hence  the  verb 
to  roam  came  to  mean  aimless  and  indefinite  wandering.    Saunter 


198  NOTES    TO   THE  KNIOHTES    TALE. 

has  a  similar  origin  :  it  is  from  sat'tite  ierre,  the  holy  land.  Beg- 
gars roved  about  the  country,  and  asked  alms  under  the  pretence 
of  going  a  la  sahite  terre.  Hence  a  saimterer  became  the  name 
of  an  idler,  and  to  saunter,  to  walk  idly.  Cf.  also  rumtnage, 
spelled  also  romage. 

208.  In  ■ivhick  =  from  which  ;  being  in  which,  he  could  see. 

211.  7iY?//C' =  a  going  to  and  fro.  A.S.  wcalc,  literally  a 
revolving.  The  zuclkin  denotes  the  sky,  or  more  properly  the 
clouds,  which  are  in  continual  motion.  The  A.S.  verb  rvealca?/ 
=  to  roll,  to  return  often;  hence,  to  zvalk. 

213.  romede  ^=  vfaWiQd  aimlessly. 

215.  He  said  full  oft,  alas  !  that  he  was  born ! 

216.  By  avcntiirc  or  cas  ^  by  adventure  or  chance.  See  notes 
P.,  25,  844- 

217.  thikkc  of  many  a  barrc  =  thickly  (set)  with  many  a  bar. 
thikke   denotes  close  together  rather   than    the   opposite  of 

broad  :  of  many  a  barre  is  an  adjunct  genitive,  denoting  the 
relation  of  the  quality. 

218.  55^«flT  =  square ;  i.e.,  as  large  square:  here  denoting  size 
as  well  as  shape.  The  bars  were  as  large  as  a  spar  or  light  tim- 
ber. 

219.  Caste,  pret. 

Scan  :  He  caste  |  his  eyen  |  upon  |  Emil  |  y-a  | 

220.  t/icrzvithal  =  at  that  instant.  T/ier  here  =  at  that  time 
rather  than  in  that  place.  There  is  used  by  Shakspcare  for  then. 
This  is  simply  an  intensive  form  o{  there. 

Bley?ite,  pr.  of  blenchc,  to  start  back.  Blink  is  another  form 
of  the  word,  meaning  a  rapid  movement  of  the  eyelids ;  hence 
any  rapid  movement,  sometimes  for  the  purpose  of  deceiving. 
The  figure  here  is  that  the  beauty  of  Emily  blinded  Palamon  like 
a  sudden  light. 

222.  ?^^  .sif(?;-i'e  =  started  up.  We  use  the  noun  formed  from 
this  compound,  up-start. 

223.  Cosyn  ;«|7/ =  cousin  of  me,  my  cousin.     71/)';/ is  genitive. 
eyleth  the  =  ■^\\q\.\\  thee.     The   difference  in  spelling  between 

the  and  thee  is  an  orthographic  expedient  for  distinguishing  these 
words. 

224.  That  art  =  that  thou  art.  When  the  subject  of  the  verb 
is  a  pronoun,  particularly  of  the  second  person,  which  is  the 
most  easily  distinguished  because  of  its  inflection,  it  is  quite  often 
omitted  in  questions.     The  same  rule  holds  good  in  Shakspeare. 


NOTES    TO    THE  KNIGHTE8    TALE.  199 

on  to  see^to  look  on,  to  behold.  A.S.  07i-seon.  We  do  not 
compound  see  with  on,  but  we  still  saj  see  through,  see  into. 

225.  c/-_)'rt'c.';/(?w  =  criedst  thou.  This  contraction  of  the  second 
person  pronoun  with  the  verb  is  common;  and  is  interesting  as 
illustrating  the  manner,  of  forming  the  inflectional  terminations 
bj  the  coalescence  of  the  pronominal  element.  In  most  inflected 
languages  the  pronominal  force  of  the  termination  was  so 
strongly  remembered  that  when  the  subject  of  the  verb  was  a 
pronoun,  no  repetition  of  it  was  necessary;  and  when  the  pro- 
nominal subject  was  used,  it  was  understood  as  an  emphatic 
repetition. 

///c=thee,  dative. 

226.  Go('/r/c5  =  God's.  The  apostrophe  in  our  possessive  case 
singular  marks  the  elision  of  r;  in  the  plural,  it  regularly  marks 
the  elision  of  final  a ;  but  often  it  is  not  significant,  but  is  used 
analogically  with  the  singular. 

227.  non  other  =  wo  otherwise.  Other  \?,  used  adverbially  = 
in  other  way. 

229.  -wikke  aspect  =^  malign  aspect.  In  the  time  of  astrology, 
the  position  (aspect)  of  the  planets  at  the  time  of  one's  birth, 
was  supposed  to  have  a  controlling  influence  upon  his  destiny. 
Some  of  these  astrological  terms  have  passed  into  common  use, 
as  jovial,  from  Jupiter;  saturnine,  from  Saturn,  who  was  sup- 
posed to  presage  a  hapless  lot  to  one  born  under  his  influence; 
mercurial,  from  Mercury ;  lunatic  from  the  moon  :  so  also  the 
word  influence  seems  to  allude  to  the  same  notion. 
"The  highest  and  aboven  alle 

Stant  that  planete  which  men  calle 

Saturnus,  whose  complexioun 

Is  colde,  and  his  condicioun 

Causeth  malice  and  cruelte 

To  him  the  whose  nativity 

Is  set  under  his  governaunce. 

For  all  his  werkes  ben  grievaunce, 

And  enemy  to  mannes  hele 

In  what  degre  that  he  shall  dele. 

Gower,  Con.  Am.  iii.  116. 

231.  although  -we  hadde  it  swor7t=  although  we  had  sworn   it 

otherwise,  we  must  endure  it.     Morris  punctuates  this  clause  in 

connection    with  what   precedes;    it    seems    to    me    to    make    a 

better  reading  to  connect  it  with  the  next  line  but  one.    Although 


200  NOTES   TO    THE  KNIGHTES   TALE. 

must  then  be  taken  as  an  emphatic  form  of  though  =  though  by  all 
means,  the  emphasis  implying  a  negative.  See  1.  312,  where  thmgh 
=  though  otherwise.     Hadde  is  subj. 

"  And  walk  I  wold,  as  I  hadde  don  biforn 
Fro  hous  to  hous,  although  he  had  it  sworn."     Wif  of  B.  639. 

232.  So  stood  the  //er'e«  =  such  was  our  horoscope. 

233.  the  schort  and  pleyn  =  ihe  short  and  plain  fact,  — as  we 
say  "the  long  and  short  of  it." 

234-  (ig-cyji^=  in  reply.  Again  and  against  are  from  the  A.S. 
gcan,  Ger.  geq-en,  opposite.  Gcan  is  usually  compounded  with 
prepositions  as  on,  to,  &c.  It  gets  the  meaning  "at  another 
time  "  from  the  idea  of  juxtaposition  in  space.  Cf.  there  =  then  ; 
where  =  when. 

235.  for  sothe  =  in  truth  ;  forsooth. 

2^6.  ymaginacioun  ^=  conception.  "To  imagine  certainly 
meant,  in  its  original  conception,  to  make  pictures,  to  picture  to 
ourselves;  but  even  to  picture  is  far  too  mixed  an  idea  to  have 
been  expressed  by  a  simple  root.  Imago,  picture,  stands  for 
mimago,  as  itnitor  for  mimitor,  the  Greek  mi7neojnai,  all  from  a 
root  ?««,  to  measure  again  and  again,  to  copy,  to  imitate."  M. 
Muller,  Sc.  of  Lang.  358. 

237.    This  frisoun  =  this  imprisonment,  —  cause  put  for  effect. 

239.  that  refers  to  the  idea  of  the  antecedent  sentence, —  the 
hurt. 

241.   ro7nr,  infinitive.     We  would  say  roaming. 

243.  I  not^=  I ne  tvot  =  I  know  not. 

Scan  :  I  not  |  wheth'r  sche  |  be  wom  |  man  or  |  goddesse. 
■whether  was  sometimes  pronounced  and  spelled  like  where. 

244.  Venus  is  it;  cf.  it  is  I.  It  is  used  when  the  subject  is 
indefinite  or  unknown. 

241;.  on  knees,  equivalent  to  an  adverb.  We  say  aback,  A.S. 
onbaec ;  ahead,  for  on-head ;  afoot,  for  on-foot,  and  why  not  a- 
knec  for  on-knees  ? 

247.  Thus  to  transfigure  yourself  in  this  garden. 

Totv.  There  is  no  simple  reflexive  pronoun  in  English;  it  is 
generally,  but  not  always,  formed  by  adding  self,  selves  to  the 
personals. 

249.  The  usual  construction  in  modern  English  would  be, 
"  Help  us  to  escape,"  &c.  The  construction  in  the  text  is  an 
imitation  of  the  Latin. 

5Crt/c  =  escape.     The  original  of  this  word  is  probably  allied 


NOTES    TO    THE   KNKIIlTEti    TALE.  20I 

to  A.S.  c«w_^,  battle ;  so  tliat  escape  would  originally  mean  to 
escape  from  battle. 

250.  if  so  be  =  if  it  so  be. 

schafe  =  shapen,  shaped,  fixed.  "  There's  a  divinity  that 
5^rt/c5  our  ends."     Shak. 

252.  /)'«fl'^<7  =  lineage,  race.  Fr.  ligiiagc^  Lat.  linea,  a  line. 
Lynage  is  here  in  the  genitive  after  have  compassiouii  =  pity. 

254.  gaii  espyc^AxA  see,  saw,  looked.     See  note  P.,  S27. 

256.  //«;Ve  =  wounded.  The  original  meaning  seems  to  be 
rvounded  by  sonicthiiig  tkrotvn,  cf.  hurtle. 

237.  if  that  =  if  it  be  that,  if. 

262.  ;«c;'cy=pity.     Fr.  merci,  literally  ^aj',  Lat.  merces. 

263.  atte  leste  tveye ^ at  least;  cf.  colloquial  least-zvays. 

264.  I  nam  but  deed  =  I  am  dead  ;  literally,  I  am  not  except 
dead,  — I  am  only  dead.  No  but  was  frequently  used  in  E.E.  for 
except.  "  No  but  a  man  schal  be  born  agen."  John  iii.  3 
(Wiclif). 

ther  7iys  no  jnore  to  seye  =  there  is  no  more  to  say ;  there  is 
nothing  else  to  say. 

268.  by  my  fey  =  by  my  faith. 

269.  God  hclpc  me  50  =  may  God  so  help  me.  The  verb  is 
Rubj. ;  cf.   "  God  do  so  to  me  and  more  also."     Bible. 

me  lust  ful  evele  plcye  =  \t  pleases  me  full  ill  to  play.  Ful 
ST'clc  modifies  lust. 

270.  gan  knytte  =  knitted,  knit. 

271.  It  nere,  &c.  =  It  were  no  great  honor  to  thee. 

272.  For  to  be  fals.  The  infinitive  is  here  construed  as  a 
substantive  after  the  preposition. 

274.  i-sxvorc  ful  deepe  =  very  firmly  sworn.  Deepc,  deeply 
seems  to  allude  to  the  practice  of  binding  a  compact  by  drinking 
together. 

Echc  of  us  to  other  =  each  of  us  to  the  other.  We  prefix  the 
article  to  other.     "Let  each  esteem  other."     Phil.  ii.  3. 

275.  "That  never  for  (fear  of )  dying  by  torture,"  &c.  That 
is  here  the  sentence-article  which  in  modern  English  is  not  used 
with  the  infinitive.  For  originally  means  in  front  of;  hence  it 
may  be,  as  here,  nearly  equivalent  to  to  prevent ;  cf.  : 

"  And  over  that  an  habergeon  for  percing  of  his  hert." 

Rime  of  Sir  Thopas. 
The  payne  =  torture ;   to  dcyen  i?i   the  payjie  =  to  die  by  tor- 
ture. 


202  NOTES    TO    THE  KNIGIITES    TALE. 

"  It  nedeth  nought   to  pytte  you  with  the  corde."     K.,  SS8. 
"Me  were  lever  die  in  the pahie"     R.R.,  3326. 
Morris  renders   this  verse  :   "That  never,  even  though  it  cost  us 
a  miserable  death." 

276.  The  dccth  =  death.  The  article  by  its  demonstrative 
force  adds  emphasis:  we  can  only  use  it  with  an  intervenin" 
adjective,  as,  "  the  inevitable  death." 

Departe  =  separate.  De  here  is  from  di  or  dis,  denoting  sep- 
aration. The  old  reading  of  the  marriage  service  was,  "Til  death 
us  depart,"  which  becoming  unintelligible  was  corrupted  into 
do  part.  "That  he  depart  with  me  the  eritage."  Luke  xii.  13 
(Wiclif). 

277.  To  hyiidrcii,  to  be  construed  with  i-sxuore,  1.  274. 

252.  Thou  durst  it  nat  ivithsayn  =  thou  durst  it  not  deny. 
With  has  here  its  primitive  force,  denoting  opposition. 

253.  Thus;  i.e.,  by  thine  oath.  T^/zw.-;  is  the  A. S.  instrumental 
thys  ==  by  this. 

Of  my  cou?iscil=  my  adviser.  Cf.  the  legal  phrase  "  to  be  of 
"  counsel." 

254.  bc?i  a/>oute^  ready  to.  The  first  meaning  of  about  is 
arotnid ;  hence,  metaphorically,  to  compass  a  matter  in  the  mind, 
to  intend;  cf  "compassing  the  king's  death." 

256.  unto  myti  herte  sterve  ^=  uuiW  my  heart  shall  die. 

unto  =■  until.     Now  generally  denotes  space  rather  than  time. 

sterve^dXo..  Here  used  in  subj.  Notice  that  this  subj.  form 
takes,  in  modern  English,  the  auxiliary  shall.  The  idea  of  con- 
tingency involved  in  the  subjunctive  readily  implies  futurity,  as 
futurity  may  also  imply  contingency. 

257.  //z<J«5c//rt/^  «ti^50=:  thou  oughtest  not  (to  say)  so.  Schal. 
in  Chaucer,  often  implies  obligation,  and  must  be  construed  as 
a  leading  verb. 

288.  i'/z<?=thee:  dative. 

289.  As  to  7ny  counseil  =  as  to  my  adviser  :  one  bound  in  honor 
to  assist  me.  Morris  renders  cou7iseil  by  advice,  which  liardly 
seems  admissible.  The  figure  seems  to  be  taken  from  the  rela- 
tion of  a  legal  adviser  to  a  client. 

my  brother  srvorn  to  forthre  me,  in  the  same  construction  as 
counseil,  and  an  elaboration  of  the  same  idea.  Counsel  would 
be  bound  in  honor  to  assist  him;  a  brother  would  still  further  be 
bound  by  affection  :  to  which  he  also  adds  his  obligation  as  a 
knight. 


NOTES    TO   THE  KNIQHTES    TALE.  203 

293.  I  dar  ivcl  sayn  =  I  dare  with  reason  to  saj. 

294.  agayni  =  in  reply. 

295.  T/io/(  schalt  be  rather  fals,  &c.  Thou  art  sure  to  be 
false  before  me,  —  sooner  than  I.     On  this  use  of  sc/ial,  cf.  1.  287. 

296.  utterly  =^whoUy.  Gower  (iii.  230)  writes  oultrely,  as  from 
Lat.  ultra. 

297.  par  amour  ^  with  (human)  love.     See  1.  301. 
r;- //^tfzy  =  before  thou  didst. 

29S.  What  -volt  thou  sayn.  Arcite  here  assumes  the  character 
of  a  special  pleader  (counseil),  and  goes  into  legal  subtleties.  It 
is  worthy  of  note,  how  the  poet  has  prepared  the  way  for  this 
scene  by  the  use  of  the  word  counseil,  1.  283. 

300.   "Thine  is  the  affection  one  may  have  for  a  saint." 

304.  I fose=^\  put  the  case;  I  suppose.  Cf  poser,  a  puzzling 
question,  such  as  are  asked  by  lawyers  in  a  cross-examination- 

305.  the  olde  clerkes  satve  =  the.  o\d  w^viter's,  saying.  The  old 
clerk  is  Boethius,  from  whom  Chaucer  has  borrowed  largely. 

306.  That  refers  to  the  saying  quoted;  cf.  "Did  he  say  that 
he  would  come .'  " 

307.  by  my  pan  =  by  my  head. 

308.  be  yeve  to  any,  &c.  =  be  given  to  any.  Tyrwhitt  reads 
ofany=hy  any. 

309.  posi'tyj' lawe  =  express  enactment;  statute  law. 
such  dec  re  =  such  stipulation. 

310.  In  ech  degree  =  in  every  rank  of  life. 

311.  nccdcs  =  needs,  necessarily.  "And  he  must  needs  go 
through  Samaria."    John  iv.  4. 

Maugre  his  heed  =^  in  spite  of  his  head. 

"And  God  wot  that  is  malgre  min  "  [in  spite  of  me]. 

Gower,  Con.  Am.  ii.  3. 

312.  though  he  schulde  be  deed  =  though  (if  he  does  not  flee  it) 
he  must  die.     On  though,  see  note  1.  231. 

313.  «/=although,  albeit  that;  cf.  1.  1617. 

314.  And  cek  it  is,  &c.  ^besides,  to  stand  in  her  favor  is  not 
likel}'  all  thy  life.     //  refers  to  to  stondett. 

318.  us  gay7ieth  710  raunsoun  =  no  ransom  avails  to  us. 
320-  here  part  =  their    share  was  nothing :  neither  received 
any  part. 

324.  "  Let  each  man  look  out  for  himself;  there  is  no  other 
way." 

325.  if  the  list  =  if  it  pleases  thee. 


204  NOTES   TO   THE  KNIQHTE8   TALE. 

327.  endure  =  to  remain.     "  His  mercy  endureth  for  ever." 

328.  everych  of  us  =  each  one  of  us. 
330.   "  If  I  only  had  leisure  to  tell  it." 

335.   ^yw /^//^<?  ^/ay  =  since  that  day.      T"////^*?  =  that  same. 
337.  to  plcyc^io  enjoy   himself.      His   visit  was   partly  for 
recreation. 

341.  that  oon  =  the  one,  one  of  them.. 

sothly  to  telle  =  to  speak  trul}',  —  to  tell  the  story  as  it  is. 

342.  helle  =  hell,  —  the  unseen  world.  A.S.  /lelan,  to  conceal. 
Cf.  Greek,  Hades. 

343.  "But  to  write  of  that  story  is  not  my  intention,"  — 
pleases  me  not. 

345.  hadde  him  knozve  =  had  known  him. 

yeer  by yeer  =  year  after  year;  continually.  "  Day  by  day  we 
magnify  thee."     See  K.,  175. 

350.  In  such  a  gyse^=  in  such  a  manner;  i.e.,  upon  such  con- 
ditions. 

352.  him  Arcite  =  this  Arcite.  The  third  personal  pronoun 
was  originally  a  demonstrative,  and  hence  was  declined  in  the 
three  genders.     See  1.  355,  "this  Theseus." 

353.  »fso  were  =  if  so  it  were;  if  so  it  should  happen.  The 
omission  of  the  subject  pronoun  in  impersonal  constructions  is 
common  in  Chaucer.  "And  so  byfel,"  K.,  151,  216;  "as  hire 
liste,"  194;  "  if  so  be,"  250;  "  lyst  me,"  343. 

356.  and  =  if.  The  contingency  is  expressed  by  the  subj., 
and  being  the  connective.  When  the  contingent  force  of  the 
verb  was  lost,  ?/"was  added,  so  that  we  find  and  if:  but  is  used 
precisely  in  the  same  way,  where  later  we  find  but  if.  "  And  they 
shall  say  to  you,  See  here,  or  See  there."     Luke  xvii.  23. 

■were  caugJtt  connected  by  a7id  to  -were  yfounde,  1.  353.  We 
would  omit  he  or  repeat  if 

359.  But  took  his  leave  =  but  he  took  his  leave.  Subject 
omitted.     Tyrwhitt  reads  taketh. 

360.  be  ■war=  be  cautious.     Usually  written  beware, 
lith  to  wedde  =  lieth  in  pledge. 

362.  The  deth  =  he  feeleth  death  smite  through  his  heart. 
See  note,  1.  276. 

364.  "  He  watcheth  for  an  opportunity  to  slay  himself 
secretly." 

365.  Alias  the  day.  &c.     Day  is  ace. ;  cf  Lat.  heu  me  miserum. 
367.  2Vow  is  fne  schaj>e=  now  is  it  appointed  for  me. 


NOTES    TO    THE  KNlGliTEB    TALE.  205 

io  divcllc  is  the  subject  of  /*■;  inc  is  dative. 
36S.  Scan  :  Nought  |  in  pur  |  gato  ]  rie  but  |  in  helle. 
373.    Oonly  qualifies  sighte  as  a  verbal  =  the  seeing. 
37S.  il/rt/5^ozv  =  majest  thou.     See  note,  1.  225. 

379.  paradysi  to  be  pronounced  par'djs. 

380.  ytonied  the  =  turned  for  thee. 

382.  for  possible  is=  for  it  is  possible.  The  sentence  begin- 
ning 1.  384,  is  the  subject  of  is. 

388.  erf/ie,  water,  Jyr,  ne  cyr.  Earth,  water,  fire,  and  air 
were  called  the  four  elements,  as  from  them  all  things  were 
supposed  to  have  been  made.  Cicero  says,  "  Omnia  elementa 
sunt  quatuor." 

"  Of  this  four  elements  ech  quik  thing  y-maked  is. 
Of  urthe,  of  water,  and  of  ejr,  and  of  fier,  i-wis." 

Pop.  Treat,  on  Science,  p.  138.     Wright. 

389.  creature,  trissjllable. 

390.  me  helpe.     Mc  is  dative  after  hclpe,  as  in  A.S. 

doon  co;//b;'^  =  afford  me  comfort.  The  termination  here 
shows  that  </tfo«  is  infinitive ;  the  final  e  in  helpe  indicates  the 
same  construction. 

391.  Wei  oiighte  /=  I  must  indeed.  See  note  P.,  505.  "  Wei 
oughte  we  to  don."  2d  Nonnes  Tale,  6.  So  also  as  an  imper- 
sonal :  "  Wei  oughte  us  werke."     lb.  14. 

xvanhope  =  despair.  A  beautiful  old  Saxon  word,  which  is 
unfortunately  obsolete.  "  Wanhope,  —  hope  that  has  whollj 
waned."     Trench. 

396.  hemself^=  themselves.  Hem  is  here  dative  pi.  =  the  self 
to  them  :  so  himself  retains  the  dative  form,  which  is  now  gen- 
erally used  as  an  accusative,  and  =  the  self  to  him. 

397.  So}n  man  =  one  man.  Som  .  .  .  som  =  one  .  .  .  another. 
Used  indefinitely  like  Lat.  guis. 

richesse  ^=  riches.  This  word  is  singular,  although  from  the 
termination  it  appears  to  be  plural. 

398.  "That  is  (proves  to  be)  the  cause  of  his  murder." 
morthre  =  murder.     Still  a  vulgar  pronunciation. 

399.  "And  another  man  would  fain  (be)  out  of  his  prison." 
After  zvould  the  dependent  verb  is  frequently  omitted. 

400.  That — is  =  who  .  .  .  after  his  wish  is  granted  is  slain  by 
his  servants. 

401.  /;i/?«/Vc  =  unnumbered,  —  usually  restricted  to  measure 
of  wholes,  and  followed  by  a  singular  noun. 


2o6  NOTES    TO   TEE  KNIOHTES    TALE. 

402.  "  We  know  not  what  it  is  tliat  we  pray  for  here." 
prayen  =  pray  for,  ask.     We  pray  to   a   person  for  a  thing. 

In  A.S.  the  construction  was  either  the  ace.  witli  the  gen.  or  the 
dative  with  the  gen. 

403.  dronke  =  drunk  :  literally  p.p.  of  drink. 

as  a  moivs,  alluding  probably  to  the  motions  of  a  mouse  when 
caught  by  a  cat.  The  bite  of  the  cat  is  said  to  partially  benumb 
or  stupefy  the  mouse. 

405.   "  But  he  knows  not  which  is  the  right  way  thither." 

410.  tve  seyen  allc.  The  natural  order  would  seem  to  be  all 
wc ;  e.g.,  "All  we  like  sheep  have  gone  astray,"  Is.  liii.  6;  but 
"  the  unemphatic  nature  of  the  nominatives  -we  and  they  prevents 
us  from  saying  'all  we.'"  Abbott,  §  240.  "We  offend  all." 
James  iii.  2. 

7iamelyche  =  especially,  —  mentioned  by  name,  and  hence 
prominent.     So  Lat.  tiominatim. 

411.  gret  opiniouji  =  s.  strong  conviction;  cf.  "the  opinion 
(i.e.  decision)  of  a  judge." 

413.  Than  hadde  I  ben  =  then  had  I  been  :  had  is  subj.  and 
we  may  read  :  "  then  would  I  have  been." 

414.  Ther  has  here  a  double  force  =  there  where ;  or,  more 
fully,  "  who  thought  that  I  would  be  in  perfect  well-being  hi  that 
condition  in  tvhich  I  am  indeed  exiled  from  my  weal." 

415.  I  may  not  sen  =  I  am  not  able  to  see. 

416.  nam  —  nys  =  tie  am  —  ne  is. 

417.  that  other  syde  =  the  other  side.  We  say  "  on  the  other 
hand."     Either  expression  denotes  opposition  or  contrast. 

421.  The  pure  fettres  =  the  very  fetters.  So  in  the  Duchess, 
1.  582,  "  the  pure  deth."  The  Greeks  used  Kadapoc,  and  the  Latin 
purtis  in  a  similar  manner. 

423.  myn  of  me,  gen. 

"And  God  wot  that  is  malgre  min."     Gower,  Con.  Am.  ii.  3. 

424.  "  In  all  our  strife,  God  knows,  the  advantage  is  thine." 

425.  at  thi  large  =  at  large,  free.  Large  is  here  used  as  a 
noun;  cf.  "  at  his  large,"  1.  469;  cf.  French,  au  large. 

426.  And  of  my  zvoo,  &c.     Thou  givest  little   heed  to  my  wo. 

431.  to  lady  and  to  ivyf=  for  a  lady  and  for  a  wife.  This  con- 
struction is  an  imitation  of  the  A.S.  and  is  common  in  E  E. 
"  We  have  Abraham  to  our  father."  Matt.  iii.  9.  "  We  habbath 
A.  us  to  faeder,"  A.S.  This  construction  with  the  double  dative 
is  also  frequent  in  Latin. 


NOTES    TO    THE   KNLUllTEH    TALE.  207 

lady  liere  means  lover  or  mistress,  as  distinguished  from  wife. 
The  root  of  this  word  seems  to  be  the  Icel.  lavdi,  written  in  A.S. 
hlavcdi,  dontina.     The  usual  derivation  from  an  assumed  hlaf- 
zvardige  is  probably  untenable. 
,  432.  -whom  that  =  whom. 

I  mot  needes  leese  my  lyf;  i.e.,  through  the  ardor  of  my  affec- 
tion. 

433.  as  by  tvcy  of  possibilite  =  as  being  in  the  way  to  take 
advantage  of  circumstances.  Your  advantage  is  great  as  com- 
pared with  mine,  as  there  is  a  possibility  of  your  success. 

by  wcy  0/  =  because  of. 

444.  box-tree;  i.e.,  in  color  yellow,  denoting  jealousy. 

445.  O  cruel  Goddes,  &c.     Goddes  here  is  plural. 

447.  zvriten,  past  plural  of  -write.  The  past  singular  is  xvrat, 
or -wrote.  The  past  plural  of  most  A.S.  verbs  had  a  different 
vowel  from  the  past  singular:  e.g  ,  sing,  past  singular  sm/sr, 
oast  plural  sungon.  Hence  the  confusion  in  such  verbs  bcUwcn 
the  forms  in  a  and  ?/,  — sang  or  sung;  drank  or  drunk. 

44S.  parlemcnt  =  decree,  determination  ;  agent  for  act.  I 
punctuate  with  an  exclamation  point  here  ;  Morris  has  a  cotnma. 
The  exclamation  begins,  "  O  cruel  Goddes."  What  follows  should 
be  pointed  as  an  interrogation. 

450.  rouketh  =  huddle,  lie  close. 

"  But  now  they  rucken  in  her  nest."     Gower,  Con.  Am.  ii.  57. 

451.  rig/it  as  a>iot/ier  bcest  =  ]iist  as  though  he  were  another 
beast. 

455-  "  What  control  (advantage)  is  there  in  this  foreknowl- 
edge that  tormenteth  guiltless  innocence.'"' 

456.  tormetiteth  Lat.  tormcjitiim  {torqucre,  to  twist)  an  instru- 
ment for  hurling  missiles  by  the  recoil  of  a  twisted  rope;  hence 
an  instrument  of  torture  where  the  force  is  applied  in  a  similar 
manner:  as  a  verb,  to  cause  severe  pain. 

458.  to  his  observaunce  =  to  his  religious  duty.  Observantia 
had  in  Latin  the  meaning  religioti.     See  1.  187  and  note. 

459.  to  letten  of  his  -wille  =  to  refrain  from  his  will. 

460.  Ther  as  =  where  :  in  that  case  where. 

463.  //rtfe^  may  have.     Subj. 

464.  it  may  stonde  so  =  it  must  be  (remain)  so.  May  some- 
times denotes  moral  possibility,  when  it  is  nearly  equivalent  to 
tnust. 


2o8  NUTE^    TO    THE  K^lLlIlTElS    TALE. 

465.  atiswcr  of  this  =  the  solution  of  this  (problem).  An- 
STver  is  usually  followed  bj  to. 

I  leie  ^  I  leave.  Allied  to  late  ;  as  the  slower  of  two  bodies 
is  left  by  the  other,  let  comes  to  have  this  meaning.     See  1.  459. 

Scan  :  Th'  answer  |  of  this  ]  I  let  |  e  to  |  divinis. 

468.  trewc  man  =  an  upright  man.  Dative  after  doon,  to 
cause.     This  use  oi  do  is  common. 

469.  Gon  —  turtle,  infinitives  after  5e.  When  a  clause  is  the 
object  of  a  verb,  the  verb  in  the  clause  must  be  in  the  infinitive; 
e.g.,  "  I  heard  him  say." 

lu/tcr  him  hist  may  ^  where  it  may  please  him.     "To  go  at 
his  pleasure  and  turn  witiiersoever  it  may  please  him." 
at  his  large.     See  1.  425  and  note. 

470.  thurg  Saturne.     See  1.  230,  and  note  1.  229. 

471.  Juno  was  the  goddess  who  presided  over  marriage.  She 
is  represented  as  "jalous  and  wood  "  and  hindering  his  mar- 
riage with  his  beloved. 

472.  ivcl  neyh  =  very  nearly :  "  my  steps  had  well  nigh 
slipped."     Ps.  Ixxiii.  2. 

473.  "  With  its  widel}'  ruined  walls." 

474.  oji  that  other  syde  =  on  the  other  hand.     See  1.  417. 
■\TS.  fere  of  him  Arcite  =  fear  of  (that)  Arcite.     Sew  note,  1. 

352- 

477.  stille  dxvcUe  =  quietly  remain. 

478.  forth  — telle  =  I  will  continue  the  story  of  Arcite. 

4S0.  double  w/se  =  in  a  duplicate  manner;  i.e.,  similarly  to 
each. 

482.  myster  =  \t\oAq  of  life ;  literally,  occupation.  Perhaps 
better  here  rendered  by  need.,  necessity,  as  Morris  gives  it.  See 
note  P.,  1.  613. 

483.  schortly  for  to  scyn  =  to  be  brief. 

484.  dampned  =  doomed,  condemned.  Damned  is  now  a 
stronger  expression  than  the  formal  intensive  condemned. 

486.  exiled  upon  his  heed  =  exiled,  upon  the  penalty  of  death 
if  he  returned. 

487.  as  out  of  that  contre,  to  be  construed  with  exiled. 

488.  axe  —  ask.  The  vulgar  pronunciatfon  of  this  word,  which 
we  find  here  in  Chaucer,  is  as  old  as  the  A.S. 

491.   That  on  =  the  one;   correlates  with  that  other,  1.  493. 
day  by  day  =  continuallj',  day  after  day.     See  1.  345. 
493.  ivher  him  lust  =  where  it  pleases  him. 


NOTES   TO    THE  KNIOIITES    TALE.  209 

495.  as  you  Ihstc  =  as  it  may  please  you  :  Instc  is  subj. 

Ton  —  ve.  In  E.E.  ye  is  the  nominative  form,  while  you  was 
used  in  the  ace.  and  dat.      Te  is  obsolete. 

that  can  =  that  know  how  to  decide  such  questions. 

496.  telle  forth  =  tell  on,  —  continue  my  story. 

497.  coiiicji  luas  =  was  come,  had  come.      Comen  is  p.p. 

49S.  Ful  ofte  a  day  =  many  times  a  day.  A  day  must  here  be 
construed  as  an  adverbial  element  =  in  one  day.  A.S.  anes 
daeges.  See  note  P.,  16S.  This  may  be  the  A.S.  on,  as  "  on 
daeg  seofon  sithum  sj'ngath,"  seven  times  a  da}'.    Luke  xvii.  4. 

he  sivelte  =  he  sighed.  This  word  has  passed  to  the  meaning 
of  severely  suffering  with  heat;  e.g.,  "sweltering  in  the  sun,"  as 
starve  has  acquired  the  specific  meaning  of  dying  of  hunger. 

502.  5c^rt/=  shall  be. 

503.  him  byraft  =  taken  from  him.     Hitii  is  dative. 

506. /rt/zt/e  =  pale  ;  yellow.  Cf.  "  fallow  ground,"  so  called 
from  the  yellowish  color  of  the  soil. 

508.   xvaillyiig.     Some  read  wakyng. 

511.  .';/>//'//e.«  =  spirits  ;  i.e.,  "animal  spirits," — a  spirit  sup- 
posed to  circulate  through  the  body,  as  the  essence  of  life. 
"Spirits  is  a  most  subtile  vapour,  which  is  expressed  from  the 
blood.  Of  these  spirits  there  be  three  kinds,  —  natural,  vital, 
animal.  The  natural  are  begotten  in  the  liver,  and  thence  dis- 
persed through  the  veins  to  perform  those  natural  actions.  The 
vital  spirits  are  made  in  the  heart  of  the  natural,  which  by  the 
arteries  are  transported  to  all  the  other  parts  ;  if  the  spirits  cease, 
then  life  ceaseth,  as  in  a  syncope.  The  animal  spirits  are  formed 
of  the  vital,  brought  up  to  the  brain  and  diffused  by  the  nerves 
to  the  subordinate  members,  give  sense  and  motion  to  them  all." 
Burton,  Anat.  Mel.,  96. 

513.  herde  =  though  one  should  hear  it;   subj. 

514.  ^ce^c  =  demeanor.  A.S.  gcar-ua,  clothing;  hence  the 
external  appearance,  or  acts  which  indicate  any  particular  state 
of  mind. 

for  all  the  zvorld  =  {ore  all  the  world,  —  a  statement  to  be 
maintained  before  (or,  in  spite  of)  all  the  world. 

515.  "And  in  his  manner,  for  all  the  world,  he  acted  not  only 
like  [one  afflicted  with]  the  Lovers'  malady  of  Eros,  but  rather 
like  [one  afflicted  with  the]  mania  engendred  of  'humor  melan- 
cholic' in  the  'cell  fantastic'  before  [in  the  fore  part  of  the 
head]."    The  "  malad_>  of  Eros"  is  that  "  heroical  love  which  is 

14 


2IO  NOTES    TO    THE  KNIGIITES    TALE. 

proper  to  men  and  women."  The  "mania  "  is  a  sort  of  melan- 
choly or  monomania.  "The  part  affected,  as  Arnoldus  sup- 
poseth,  is  the  former  part  of  the  head,  for  want  of  moisture." 
Burton,  Anat.  Mel.  "All  [authors]  make  leanness,  want  of  ap- 
petite, want  of  sleep,  ordinary  symptoms,  and  by  that  means  they 
[the  subjects]  are  brought  often  so  low,  so  much  altered  and 
changed  that,  as  he  [Terence  Eun.]  jested  in  the  comedy,  one 
scarce  knew  them  to  be  the  same  men."  lb.  Burton  quotes  this 
passage,  saying  "  So  he  describes  it—  love-melancholy— aright." 

517.  manye  =  mania. ;  dat.  after //>tc. 

518.  selle  fantastyk.  "  Inner  senses  are  three,  .  .  .  common 
sense,  phantasy,  memory.  .  .  .  His  [phantasy's]  organ  is  in  the 
middle  cell  of  the  brain."     Burton. 

519.  uf-so-doim  =  upsidedown.  So  is  the  old  relative,  cor- 
rupted into  side. 

522.  alday=-a\\Aay\   used  adverbially. 

526.  Upon  a  night.  On  with  the  dative  in  A.S.  denoted  time 
when  "On  tham  thriddan  daege."    John  ii.  i. 

As  he  him  leydc  =^  Ki  he  laid  him  (down)  in  sleep. 

527.  Him  thoughte=\\.  seemed  to  him. 

529.  ///.<;  5/e/V)/ jer^e  =  his  sleep-producing  wand. 
"  Tum  virgam  capit;  hac  animas  ille  evocat  Oreo 
Palentis,  alias  sub  Tartara  tristia  mittit, 
Dat  somnos,  adimitque,  et  lumina  morte  resignat." 

Virgil,  Aen.  iv.  242. 
"Adjectives  signifying  effect  were  often   used  to  signify  the 
cause."     Abbott,  §  4. 

1530.  heres=  hairs.  We  use  the  singular  in  a  collective  sense 
to  denote  the  mass  of  hair  covering  the  head,  and  the  plural  to 
denote  a  collection  of  single  hairs. 

531.  as  he  took  keepe=  as  he  observed. 
533-  s(^ydc  him  =  said  to  him. 

534.  Ther  is  the  schapen  =  there  is  determined  (prepared)  for 

thee. 

535.  5^t;'/e  =  started,  arose  quickly. 

536.  that  me  sjnerte=  that  pained  me. 

540.  I  recchenat  to  stcrve^^I  reck  not  to  die;  I  care  not  if  I  die. 
543.  in  another  kynde—  in  another  nature. 
"  It  is  all  one  to  say  unkinde 

As  thing  which  done  is  ayein  kinde"  [nature]. 

Gower,  Con.  Am.  ii.  292. 


NOTES    TO    THE  KNIGHTES    TALE.  2il 

544.  it  ran  him  into  myndc  =  it  occurred  to  him ;  literally, 
■'  it  ran  into  the  mind  to  him."     Cf.  "  to  call  to  mind." 

546.  Of  maladie  =  by  the  malady.     Gen.  of  cause. 

547.  if  that  he  bar  him  lotve  =  \i  he  conducted  himself  in  a 
Jowly  manner;  i.e.,  like  one  of  low  birth. 

549.  xvel  ncih  day  by  day  =  almost  every  day. 

550.  right  anon  =  immediate!}'. 

552.  alone  =  alle  one,  —  al/e  being  used  adverbially.  Al  alone 
is  therefore  alle  alle  one.  The  A.S.  ««  =  (i)one;  (2)  single, 
sole.  The  prefix  al  had  originally  precisely  the  force  which  all 
now  has  in  all  alofie. 

"  But  for  he  may  not  all  him  o?te. 
In  sondry  places  do  justice." 

Gower,  Con.  Am.  iii.  178. 
"  The  king  which  made  him  muchcl  mone 

Tho  stood  as  who  saith  all  him  one.''     lb.  iii.  285. 
"  And  taer  he  ledde  him  anc  his  lif."     Orm.  3204. 
the  use  of  him  in  these  extracts  illustrates  also  the   construction 
of  him  in  himself 

554.  disffyscd  fovrely  as  he  zvas  =  clothed  poorly  like  his 
master  for  the  sake  of  concealment. 

555.  the  ncxte  xvay  =  the  nearest  way.  The  x  is  due  to  the 
coalescence  of  guttural  h  with  5.  A.S.  7icah,  near;  ?icahst,  nearest, 
next.  Way  in  A.S.  would  be  in  the  gen. ;  it  must  here  be  con- 
strued as  ace. 

558.  zvhat  so  mc.i  ivol  devyse  =  (to  do)  whatever  one  would 
direct. 

»iew  =  one ;  the  indefinite  pronoun,  as  shown  by  wo/,  which 
is  singular,  the  pi.  being  -ivolden. 

560.  fel  in  office  =  he  entered  service  ;  cf  military  order  "  fall 
in." 

561.  Tiie  tvhich  that  =  who,  the  one  that,  —  the  -which  =  a 
demonstrative. 

562  For  explains  the  reason  why  he  had  been  selected  as 
chamberlain  for  Emily 

couthc  sone  asfyc  =  could  soon  discover  (the  character)  of 
every  servant. 

564.  he  now  refers  to  Arcite. 

566.  strong.  "  A  strong  man  means  no  more  than  one  whose 
sinews  are  firml}'  strung."     Trench. 

567.  that  =  that  that.     Abbott  (Shak.  Gr.  §  244)  suggests  that 


212  NOTES    TO    THE  KNIGHTES    TALE. 

the  omission  of  the  relative   may  be  explained  by  the  fact  that 
tiie  relative  and  demonstrative  have  the  same  form. 
him,  dative. 

568.  yeer,  ace.  of  time. 

569.  Page,  a  servant,  especially  a  youth.     Cf.  Gr.  naidiov. 
572.  of  /lis  degree,  refers  to  ;«««,  1.  571. 

576.  cnkaunse  /its  degree  =  elevate  his  station.  "  He  that  shal 
meeke  hym  self  shal  ben  enhaunsid."     Matt,  xxiii.  12  (Wiclif). 

577.  vjorschipful  =  honorable;  cf.  "worshipful  master," 
"  w^orshipful  society."  Shak.  "Worship  thi  fader  and  thi 
model'."     Luke  xviii.  20  (Wiclif). 

578.  vertu  =^  ■\h\\\Vy .  See  note  P.,  515.  "Jesus  knowing  that 
virtue  had  gone  out  of  him."     Mark  v.  30. 

579.  zvii/iinne  a  -while  =  within  a  (little)  while. 
spronge  =  sprang  up,  became  known. 

580.  of  his  dcdes.  Sic,  gen.  of  cause  after  spronge. 

581.  taken  him  so  ?^eer  =  become  so  intimate  with  him;  cf. 
"  to  take  to  one." 

582.  squyer  =  squire,  knight  of  his  chamber;  literally,  shield- 
bearer,  hence,  servant. 

586.  ^o?/c5^/y  =  becoming  one  of  his  station.  "  Provide  things 
honest  [honorable]  in  the  sight  of  all  men."     Rom.  xii.  17. 

5/e/]i,'"/^/>' =  prudently.  "The  O.E.  sleigh,  sly  =  wise,  know- 
ing ;  and  sleight  =  wisdom,  knowledge.  For  change  of  meaning 
compare  cu7ini7ig,  originally  knowledge,  and  craft,  originally 
power."     Morris. 

587.  That  =  so  that. 

H01V  that  =  how  it  was  that ;  from  whence.  Hoxv  is  properly 
the  instrumental  case  of  the  interrogative. 

588.  j>'eer  =  years.  Still  vulgarly  used.  A.S.  sing,  and  pi. 
gear. 

589.  bar  him  so  =  so  conducted  himself.  The  personal  pro- 
nouns are  often  used  as  reflexives,  without  self. 

591.  lete  ^  leave.  A.S.  laetan.  Let,  to  hinder,  is  from  A.S. 
lettan. 

594.  This  seveti  yeer.  A  period  considered  as  a  definite  portion 
of  time  was  construed  in  the  singular;  e.g.,  "a  fortnight,"  "an 
eight  days  after."     Luke  ix.  28. 

seten  p.p.  of  sitte  =  remained.  Set,  causative,  A.S.  settan, 
has  p.  sette,  p.p.  geset.     Eng.  set,  set,  set. 

595.  ivhat  for  woo,  &c.  =^  partly  for  wo  and  partly  for  restraint. 


NOTES    TO   THE   KNIGIITES    TALE.  213 

The  following  lines  elaborate  this  idea.     Supply  zv//ai  with  yor 
distresse-      Woo  refers  to  his  passion. 
"Till  what  by  sleight  and  what  by  strength."     Gower  ii.  3S8. 

^/5/;-e55<;  =  restraint,  confinement;  cf.  "distress  of  goods." 
Chaucer  uses  the  verb  dcsireyu  in  this  sense. 

596.  double ;  i.e.,  through  love  and  imprisonment. 

601.  ry7ne  =  tell  in  poetry.  A.S.  rim,  number:  so  rtfii- 
craeft  =  arithmetic ;  riJii-stcifas  =  number  letters,  the  A.S.  poetry 
being  alliterative.  Rliyme,  therefore,  means  lines  with  nimi- 
bered  syllables.  The  word  has  no  connection  with  rhythm. 
Trench  says  :  "  Rhyme  with  a  j  is  a  modern  misspelling;  and 
would  never  have  been  but  for  the  undue  influence  which  the 
Greek  '  rhythm  '  has  exercised  upon  it.  Spenser  and  his  con- 
temporaries spelt  it  '  rime.'"     E.  Past  and  Pres.,  308. 

602.  tnartirdam  =  martyrdom.  The  A.S.  adopted  ecclesias- 
tical terms  from  the  Greek,  and  thus  formed  a  series  of  mongrel 
words. 

it  am  nat  /=  it  is  not  I.  This  is  the  regular  construction  in 
E.E.  Am  is  used  because  it  is  seen  to  be  a  mere  substitute  for  /. 
We  require  relatives  to  agree  grammatically  with  their  antece- 
dents. 

605.  the  thriddc  night  =  the  night  of  the  third  of  May. 

608.  schal  ^  must.  A.S.  sceal^^\  owe,  I  must.  "  Shal, 
therefore,  meant  '  I  have  killed,'  '  I  must  pay  penance,  wergeld  ;  ' 
hence,  '  I  am  under  an  obligation,'  'I  am  obliged,'  '  I  must.' " 
Helfenstein,  Com.  Gr.,  515. 

609.  the  mydiiyght.  We  would  omit  the  article  here  and  sup- 
ply it  with  helping  in  the  next  line.  The  exigencies  of  the  metre 
to  a  certain  degree  determine  the  presence  or  absence  of  the 
article,  but  its  demonstrative  force  was  felt  much  stronger  in 
Chaucer's  time  than  at  present.  The  midnight=the  midnight 
of  the  night  mentioned  above. 

611.  Jleeth  the  cite.     Fleeth  is  here  used  transitively. 

612.  soo  correlates  with  that,  1.  615. 

614.  opye  of  Thebes  fyn  ==  pure  opium  of  Thebes.  Burton 
alludes  to  "opium  from  Thebes  "  as  the  best  known. 

615.  7nen  rvolde^onc  should.  Wolde  is  subj.  in  which  case 
we  genevMy  use  should,  could.  "It  is  a  natural  and  common 
mistake  to  say  would  is  used  for  should  by  Elizabethan  writers." 
Abbott,  §  329. 

616.  mightc  nought  =  could  not,  was  unable  to. 


214  NOTES    TO    THE   KNIGllTEB    TALE. 

617.  as  faste  as  evere  he  7nay=as  fast  as  he  possibly  can. 
This  use  of  ever  for  the  sake  of  emphasis  is  still  retained  in  col- 
loquial language. 

may=  is  able.  A.S.  magan.  "  Wherof  schal  a  man  mowe 
fille  hem."  Mark  viii.  4  (Wiclif ).    We  mowen  not.    C.  T.  16,  149. 

618.  faste  by  =  \.h.Q  day  close  by.  Faste  is  used  for  emphasis 
like  right,  just,  full,  all;   of.  "fast  asleep." 

619.  «ce</c5-ctf5/ =  needes  ways,  necessarily.  Cost  may  per- 
haps be  A.S.  cyst.,  from  ccosau,  to  choose.  Tyrwhitt  says  that  the 
sense  of  this  passage  is  so  obscure  that  he  is  inclined  to  adopt 
Urry's  proposed  amendment,  "  that  needes  cast  "  =  that  he  must 
needs  cast  about  or  contrive.  Morris  says  needes-cost  seems  to 
be  equivalent  to  O.E.  needes-tvyse. 

620.  til ^:  to.  So  in  A.S.  and  Norsk.  This  use  of  till  is  now 
a  common  vulgarism. 

grove.  A.S.  graef  from  grafan.,  to  carve,  to  dig;  hence,  a 
grove,  a  grave:  Webster's  Diet,  says  "because  an  avenue  or 
grove  is  cut  or  hollowed  out  of  a  thicket  of  trees."  This  word  is 
used  in  the  Bible  to  denote  a  carved  image  or  idol.  The  changes 
in  meaning  may  have  been  somewhat  like  this :  (i)  that  which 
is  cut;  (2)  wood  which  has  been  cut;  (3)  wood  in  general;  (4) 
wood,  collectively ;  forests  are  still  called  -woods.  Similar  changes 
have  taken  place  in  the  word  timber,  from  A.S.  timbria?i,  to  build  : 
(i)  building  material;  (2)  wood  to  be  used  in  the  construction 
of  an  edifice;  (3)  the  edifice  (Ger.  zimmer)  ;  (4)  trees  that  may 
be  made  into  building  material  :    "the  timber "=  the  forest. 

ther  is  here  used  with  its  pronominal  force,  in  the  dative  after 
besyde. 

625.  "  To  pray  his  friends  to  help  him  to  make  war  on  The- 
seus." 

627.  or  —  o;'  =  he  would  either  —  or.  Or  is  a  contraction  of 
either.  "  Either  he  schal  hate  the  toon  and  love  the  tother, 
either  he  schal  susteyne  the  toon  and  despise  the  tother."  Matt. 
vi.  24  (Wiclif). 

628.  ufito  his  ivyf.     See  1.  431  and  note. 

629.  entente  Jilayn  =  evident  intention. 

631.  care ^  sorrow,  one  who  would  cause  him  sorrow.  Nam- 
ing an  object  by  the  emotion  it  inspires,  is  a  common  figure  of 
speech;   e.g.,  my  love,  my  aversion. 

636.  of  the  light  =  because  of  the  light.  Of  originally  =frovu 
naturally  passes  into  the  meaning  "  in  consequence  of."     This 


NOTES    TO    THE   KNIGIITES   TALE.  215 

whole  passage  is  full  of  great  descriptive  beauty:  the  lark,  rising 
in  the  early  dawn,  the  brightening  east,  the  rising  sun,  the  spark- 
ling dew-drops  on  the  leaves,  all  combine  to  present  a  rare  pic- 
ture to  the  imagination. 

637.  grevcs  =  groves.  Refers  rather  to  the  branches  of  the 
trees  or  bushes,  —  i.e.,  that  which  is  green.  See  1.  649,  and 
note. 

640.  Squyer  principal.  The  adjective  is  placed  after  the  noun 
in  imitation  of  the  French. 

643.  /?e;«e;«(5?rj7/^(?«  ^  meditating  on.  7?c;«c;«^cr^  to  think 
on  :  mcmiiiissc  is  so  used  in  Latin. 

poyni  of  /lis  desir  ^  the  object  of  his  desire. 

645.  Him  to  pleye=^to  play  by  himself,  to  amuse  himself. 
Him  is  dative;  cf.  "  play  me  a  tune;"  "play  him  "=  play  for 
himself  or  by  himself. 

646.  were  it       it  might  be  ;    subj. 

64S.  gan  to  holdc  =  held,  began  to  hold.  Gati  frequently  is 
equivalent  to  the  auxiliary'  do.     See  bigan,  P.,  827  and  note. 

649.  ^re?^M  =  branches.     See  Gloss.  Percy's  Rel. 

650.  Were  it^=\\.  might  be  ;  subj. 
■woodebynde^=^ooA\i\'c\Q..     The  earlier  orthography   indicates 

the  derivation  of  the  word. 

651.  ageiis.  as  he  was  riding  eastward. 

652.  Scan  :  iVIay  |  with  alle  |  thy  flow  |  res  and  |  thy  greene. 

654.  som  grcne  gete  may  ^=  niay  be  able  to  get  some  prosper- 
ity.     Gete  is  inf. 

655.  lusty  herte^'o.  heart  full  of  desire,  longing. 
659.  that^m  order  that,  so  that;  cf.  Lat.  quo. 

662.  "God  knows  he  would  have  believed  it  full  little." 

663.  "But  the  truth  was  said  many  years  ago."  Is  said  = 
has  been  said  :  a  passive  perfect  formed  like  the  Latin  amatus  est. 
dictus  est. 

goon,  &c.,  literally,  gone  since  are  many  years. 

664.  The  old  proverb  :  "  Veld  haueth  hege,  and  wude  haueth 
heare."  In  the  open  country  a  man  may  easily  be  seen  ;  in  the 
forest  he  may  be  heard. 

66,1;.  a  man  =  for  a  man  :    dative  after  the  adjective. 
666.  at  unset  stevene  ^^^WXiowi  previous  appointment. 
stevene,  literally  =  voice,  a  message;  hence,  a  meeting  agreed 
upon  by  a  message. 

"  And  then  they  setten  Steven  for  to  mete."     Cokes  Tale,  19. 


2l6  NOTES    TO    THE   KNIOHTES    TALE. 

668.  to  hcrkcn  al  his  sazve^^to  listen  to  all  his  sayings.  In 
A.S.  heorcnian  is  followed  bj  the  dative. 

G'^o.  al  his  Jille  =^  \.o  his  satisfaction.  Fille  is  here  used  ad- 
verbially. "Then  mayst  thou  eat  grapes  thy  fill."  Deut.  xxiii. 
24. 

673.  here  ^«n'«/c  ^cc;'C5=  their  strange  customs. 

queynte  =  quaint,  odd.  Fr.  coint  (Lat.  cognitus)  known. 
From  kiioti'tt,  -cvcll-knozvn,  comes  the  idea  of  being  old,  anti- 
quated. We  give  a  peculiar  meaning  to  the  word,  making  it 
denote  a  pleasant  oddity,  not  pronounced  enough  to  be  intrusive. 

676.  Friday,  here  alluded  to  as  a  day  of  unreliable  weather, 
—  partaking  of  the  fickleness  of  its  patron  Friga,  the  northern 
Venus. 

677.  Scan  :  Now  |  it  schyn  |  eth,  &c. 

678.  can.     T\rwiiitt.     M.orY\s  re,a.ds  gaii  overcaste. 
J79.  ^/>c_/b/X-  =  her  followers. 

681.  "  A  writer  in  Notes  and  Qiieries  quotes  the  following 
Devonshire  proverb  : 

'  Fridays  in  the  week 
Are  never  aleek.'"     Morris. 
683.  'Li'ithouten  cny  7nore  =  without    anything   further,  imme- 
diately. 

6S4.  ihaf  day  must  be  construed  as  ace.  after  the  interjection, 
or  for  must  be  supplied. 

686.  Wilto-u  =  \w\\\.  thou.  The  inflectional  endings  of  the 
verb  were  originally  formed  from  appended  pronouns,  precisely 
in  this  manner. 

687.  ib r ought  is.  ^\%  brought,  has  been  brought. 

691.  kyng.  "The  Teutonic  nations  used  the  name  konig,  or 
king,  and  this  corresponds  to  the  Sanskrit  jatiaka.  What  did  it 
mean.''  It  simply  meant  father,  the  father  of  a  family,  '  the  king 
of  his  own  kin^'  the  father  of  a  clan,  the  father  of  a  people."  M. 
Muller,  Sc.  of  L.  272. 

693.  vcrray  lyne  =  true  line,  direct  descent. 

as  =  and.  As  is  a  contraction  of  also  and  here  has  its 
usual  force  when  uncontracted. 

694.  /f/^rrt/=  enslaved.  Literally^ I  am  such  a  captive  and 
a  slave  :  such  (so)  correlating  with  that. 

695.  he  that^'who.  The  clauses  are  inverted.  Read,  "I 
serve  him  as  his  squire  humbly,  who  is  my  mortal  enemy."  The 
inversion  serves  the  purpose  of  emphasis. 


NOTES    TO    Till':    KNWriTES    TALE.  217 

699.  /'^r;' «.s-=  whereas  ;  not  where.  Tkcr  is  frequently  used 
where  we  use  zvhcre,  the  derivatives  of  -iv/to,  -what,  being  still 
Interrogative. 

704.  ;«rtr/y;-e/^^  tortiuetii.  Martyr  originally  signified  a 
witness,  and  was  early  used  to  denote  those  who  had  borne  wit- 
ness to  the  truth  of  Christianity  by  suffering  death  ;  and  as  such 
persons  were  usually  put  to  death  by  torture,  to  martyr  acquires 
the  meaning  of  putting  to  a  painful  death. 

707.  c«;'(y/</=  full  of  cure.  "We  are  not  careful  to  answer 
thee."     Dan.  iii.  16. 

705.  erst  than  my  sclurtc^^i.oowQ.'C  than  (before)  my  shirt; 
i.e.,  before  his  birth. 

712.  mountaitftce  of  a  tare=:  the  least  possible  amount.  Tare 
is  the  vetch  ;  so  also  Chaucer  frequently,  "  I  care  not  a  bean." 

713.  "  So  that  I  could  do  aught  that  would  cause  you 
pleasure." 

715.  he  .  .  .  this  Palamon.  He  is  here  used  with  somewhat 
of  a  demonstrative  force  (Lat.  ille^,  referring  to  the  former  of 
two  persons  mentioned.     This  is  the  usual  A.S.  construction. 

716.  that  thoHghte  =  who  thought  that  he  felt. 

719.  tale  ^  story.  A.S.  tal,  a  fable,  a  slander,  from  tac/an, 
to  speak  ill  of:  hence  originally  a  false  tale;  (2)  a  tale  told  cir- 
cumstantially. Cf.  history  and  story;  also  tale-bearer,  tell-tale. 
This  word  must  be  distinguished  from  ta/r,  a  number,  a  reckon- 
ing: the  first  forming  the  verb  tacla//,  and  the  latter  tctta?/. 
They  are  undoubtedly  allied :  they  are  confused  in  Morris's 
Glossary. 

721.  He  sterte  hi'm^he  started.  After  verbs  of  motion  we 
frequently  find  the  personal  pronoim  used  reflexively,  forming  a 
middle  voice. 

724.  ivhom  that^ior  whom  (it  is)  that;  whom,  i.e.,  my  lady. 

725.  ^/oof/=  relative  ;  a  connection  by  blood.     See  1.  273- 

726.  heerc  byforti  ^=heiove  this.  Hcere  is  not  an  adverb,  but 
a  pronoun;  cf.  the  O.E.  not  for  then=  nevertheless,  where  theti 
is  a  pronoun. 

728.   "  And  hast  thus  falselj'  changed  thy  name." 

730.  schalt  is  here  used  as  expressing  strong  determination, 
and  not  simply  futurity. 

731.  "  But  only  I  (I  alone)  and  no  other  will  love  her." 
oonly  ^  ■aXone.      So    Spenser,    "That    th'  onely    breath    him 

daunts."     F.  Q^  i.  7,  §  13. 


2l8  NOTES    TO   THE  KNIOIITES    TALE. 

733.  wepen  =  weapon  :  one  syllable. 

734.  y-sferie  =:  escaped.     Tyrwhitt  reads  astert. 
grace  ^  good  fortune.     So  harde  grace  =  misfortune. 
73  V   /  drcde  not  =  I  have  no  doubt. 

o/Z/er^ either,  correlates  with  or  in  next  line. 

740.  lyoHH.  The  article  was  omitted  in  comparative  sen- 
tences, after  as,  like,  than,  as  in  our  compounds;  e.g.,  lion- 
like. 

742.   Nere^^nc  ivcre^  were  it  not. 

745.  ofmyn  kond=^hy  my  hand. 

748.  verray  fool=  fool  indeed.  "  My  very  son  Esau."  Gen. 
xxvii.  26. 

////«>(' we// =  remember  well.  A.S.  thetican,  to  think,  to  re- 
member ;  the  active  form  of  i/ihtcan,  to  seem  :  hence,  to  cause  to 
come  to  mind.  Tkink  still  =  remember  in  colloquial  language; 
e.g.,  "I  did  not  think."  The  noun  tha?ik.  which  is  from  this 
verb,  means  "  that  given  in  remembrance  of  a  favor." 

750.  for  as  ;««C/^e=:  forasmuch  as,  since.  For=^  in  consider- 
ation of.  ^5  7nuckc=^&o  great  (a  fact),  now  generally  followed 
by  as.     Tyrwhitt  reads  : 

"But  for  thou  art  a  worthi  gentil  knight." 

751.  ///re  ^  for  her  :  dative. 

753.  Scan  :  En  y'oth  |  er  knight. 

754.  as  a  knight ;  i.e.,  armed. 

759.  if  so  be^\i  it  so  be.  "That  thou  mylady  wynne"  is 
the  real  subject  of  be. 

760.  ther  I a7n  z«;«e  =  wherein  I  am. 

761.  as  for  ;Me  =  so  far  as  I  am  concerned;  cf.  the  colloquial 
expression  "  for  all  me." 

763.  (fe/rtr/e^=  separated. 

765.  o«/ o/"^  without.     A.S.  ?i!/rt«  =  without. 

766.  re^«c  =  king:  literally,  a  kingdom,  used  by  metonomy 
for  king. 

767.  is  seyd=^\%  it  said.  The  following  sentence  is  the 
subject. 

768.  his  tkonkes^^N\\\\r\%\y.  The  gen.  was  used  in  A.S.  as 
an  adverb;  cf.  «e<?^e5^  necessarily. 

"  For  haveles  (poor) 
His  thonkes  is  no  man  alive." 

Gower,  Con.  Am.  ii.  211. 
771.   on  the  mo  rive ;  cf.  a-tnorwe,  1.  763. 


NOTES    TO    THE  KNIOTITES   TALE.  219 

Daycs  light  =^  the  light  of  day.  In  compound  nouns  the  first 
has  the  force  of  a  genitive  or  dative. 

779.    Tho  chaiigeii  gan  =  then  changed-      Ga7i  =  did. 

here  facc^=  their  faces  :  literally  "  in  the  face  of  them."  The 
modern  construction  uses  the  plural,  we  having  changed  the 
genitive  of  the  pronoun  into  a  possessive. 

782.  <^c;'c  ^  bear.  A.S.  bcra,  probably  from  bcran,  to  excel, 
the  bear  being  the  largest  wild  animal  known  in  the  northern 
regions.  Bere,  barley  (cf.  beer),  seems  to  have  the  same  deri- 
vation, denoting  the  grain  which  surpassed.  The  six-rowed 
barley  is  called  in  Scotland  big,  while  the  four-rowed  is  called 
bear. 

7S4.  breketh.  The  subject  is  "  bowes  and  the  leves."  See 
1.  1SS5.  Tyrwhitt  reads  breking,  and  says:  "The  MSS.  all  read 
breketh;  but  it  is  more  likely,  I  think,  that  the  first  transcriber 
should  have  made  a  mistake  in  that  word,  than  that  Chaucer 
should  have  offended  so  unnecessarily  against  grammar."  If  we 
construe  a7td  as  equivalent  to  ^5,  the  difficulty  is  avoided.  "  And 
heareth  him  come  rushing  through  the  underbrush,  as  the  boughs 
and  leaves  break  before  him." 

788.  mc  myshappe^M  it  go  ill  with  me.  Mishap  is  now  used 
only  as  a  noun. 

790.  As  fcr  as=  as  soon  as  :  literally,  when  they  were  as  far 
as,  &c. ;  or,  as  we  would  say,  "when  they  were  so  near  that  each 
knew  the  other." 

791.  good  day,  the  usual  friendly  salutation. 

794.  as  he  7vere=as  though  he  were.  "As  it  had  been  the 
face  of  an  angel."     Acts  vi.  15.     In  which  case  had  been  is  subj. 

798.  wood  /youn  =  a.n  enraged  lion. 

S03.  /  letc  hem  =  I  leave  them  fighting  :  literall\ ,  I  allow  them 
to  continue  fighting.  Fightyng  dzvelle  is  an  infinitive  phrase, 
which  must  be  construed  as  a  noun  used  in  the  ace.  like  an 
adverb. 

804.  forth  is  here  used  with  the  idea  of  motion,  —  the  advance 
of  the  story,  like  henceforth. 

805.  The  destyni.  Article  used  to  correlate  with  that;  cf. 
Lat.  id  .  .  .  quod. 

mynistre  general  =m\msiQr-genera.\,  general  manager.  In 
most  instances  in  which  the  noun  precedes  the  adjective,  Chaucer 
follows  the  French  idiom. 

809.  by  ye  or  nay.    "  Yea  and  nay  were  originally  the  answers 


220  NOTES   TO    THE   KNIGHTES    TALE. 

to  questions  framed  in  the  affirmative;  jes  and  no,  the  answers 
to  questions  framed  in  the  negative."  Bible  Word-Book.  Thus 
yea  and  nay  acquire  the  force  of  certainty.  "  But  let  your  com- 
munication be  yea,  yea,  nay,  nay  "  (Matt.  v.  37) ;  that  is,  definite 
A.S.  hyi ys.  Iiytys;  hyt  nys,  hyt  uys.  "The  promises  of  God  are 
yea"  (2  Cor.  i.  20)  ;   that  is,  certain. 

Sio.  //'  —  ///r?^=  that  — which;  cf.  "  Art  thou  not  it  that  (he 
who)  hath  cut  Rahab.''"     Is.  li.  9. 

S15.   "This  say  I  now  with  reference  to  mighty  Theseus." 

81S.  "  No  day  dawneth  to  him  in  bed;  "  i.e.,  day-light  never 
finds  him  in  bed. 

S23.  ^«»(?  =  destruction,  death;   cf.  Goth,  banja^  a  blow. 

824.  Mars,  the  god  of  war;  Diane,  Diana,  the  goddess  of 
hunting.  After  does  not  refer  to  time  :  his  first  choice  was  war; 
his  second,  hunting. 

828.  clothed  refers  to  the  whole  part3\  "And  I  warne  you 
that  there  be  none  of  you  but  that  he  be  well  horsed,  and  that  ye 
all  be  clothed  in  greene,  either  in  silke  or  in  cloth."  Queene 
Guenever's  orders  for  a  Maying  party  in  the  Hist,  of  K.  Arthur, 
iii.  c.  129. 

829.  Oh  JiOHting.  On  explains  the  force  of  a  in  similar  con- 
structions, —  a  being  an  abbreviation  of  oti,  as  a,  the  article,  is 
an  abbreviation  of  an  Chaucer  uses  both  forms  :  aloft,  Ofi  loft, 
abed,  on  bed,  apart,  on  fart,  alive,  on  live.  So  in  the  Bible, 
a  dying,  a  fishing.  Earle,  in  his  Philology  of  the  English 
Tongue  (p.  376),  says,  "I  derive  this  a  from  the  French 
prepositions,  thus  afoot  represents  apicd,"  —  a  view  which  is 
refuted  by  nearly  ever}'  instance  in  which  it  occurs  in  Early 
English. 

833.  launde.  "  Lande :  a  Land,  or  Laund,  a  wild,  untilled,  shrub 
liie  or  bushie  Plaine."    Cotgr. 

"  Whan  they  come  to  the  laund  on  hight, 
The  quenys  pavylon  there  was  pight 
That  she  myght  se  of  the  best 
All  the  game  [sport]  of  the  forest." 

Ipomydon,  383,  Weber  ii.  295. 
"  Then  went  they  doune  into  a  launde 
These  noble  archeres  all  three; 
Eche  of  them  slew  a  hart  of  greece  \^frize'\ 
The  best  that  they  could  se," 

Adam  Bell,  Percy's  Rel. 


NOTES    TO    THE   KNIGflTES    TALE.  221 

"For  through  this  Liiiiid  aiioii  the  deer  will  come." 

Shak.  3  Ilcn.  VI.  iii.  i. 
In  tlie  first  quotation  laiind  seems   to  denote  a   cleared  hill;   in 
the  second  a  cleared  valley;  in  the  third,  an  open  space  between 
two  forests,  —  so  that  the  leading  idea  of  the  word  is  a  cleared 
space. 

hhn.  After  verbs  of  motion  the  pronoun  is  often  used  reflex- 
ively,  forming  ri  middle  voice. 

834.  thider=W\\W\&x,  —  the  proper  form  with  a  verb  of  motion. 
Modern  English  incorrectly  uses  there,  where,  here,  for  thither, 
whither,  hither. 

-wont  have  =  wont  to  have. 

835.  Scan  :  And  ov'r  |  a  brook  |  &c. 

837.  him  lust  coinaundc=^  it  pleased  him  to  order. 
839.    ^'//ffer^  towards.     Looking  towards  the  sun,  they  would 
be  distinguishable  from  a  greater  distance. 

841.  breeme  =  furiously.  For  an  interesting  note  on  this 
word  see  M.  Muller,  Sc.  of  Lang.  ii.  232. 

"  And  breres  brimme  for  to  pricke."     R.  R.  1S36. 
"Neither  bragger  ne  boster  ftbr  no  bremme  wordis." 

Dep.  Ric.  IL  p.  ii. 
as  it  xverc  =  as   though   it  were ;  as   though  they   were,     /t 
refers  to  boorcs  txvo ;  the  verb  is   plural   to  agree  with  the  noun 
following;  cf.  "  it  nam  nat  I,"  602.     "  It  am  I,"  87S.     "  It  ben  the 
schirrefes  men." 

844.  "  It  seemed  that  the  lightest  stroke  of  either  would  fell 
an  oak." 

«5  it  tuolde  =  as  though  it  would,     /t  refers  to  strook. 

845.  wZ/rt/^what  sort  of  persons;  who.  JF7/az!  refers  rather 
to  rank,  calling,  or  nationality. 

nothiiig=  in  no  respect.  "  For  every  creature  [thing  created] 
of  God  is  good,  and  nothi7ig  [by  no  means]  to  be  refused."  i  Tim. 
iv.  4. 

848.  Hoo,  an  exclamation  used  by  Heralds  to  stop  the  fight; 
used  now  to  stop  horses,  whoa. 

849.  leesyng,  a  verbal  noun,  hence  followed  by  of. 

852.  zvkat  mester  ;«e«  =  what  sort  of  men.     See  note  P.,  613. 
855.  /j'5/c5  =  lists.     See  note  P.,  63. 

857.  -what  needeth  =  in  what  respect  (why)  does  it  need. 

858.  the  dcth.  Death  would  imply  a  natural  death,  while  the 
death  —  the  noun  being  emphasized  by  the  demonstrative  — im- 


222  NOTES   TO   THE   KNIOHTES    TALE. 

plies  the  death  fixed  by  law,  death  as  a  punishment;  the  death  is 
also  used  to  denote  any  remarkable  mortality. 

bothe  two.  With  pronouns  both  is  usually  construed  sub- 
stantively; e.g.,  both  of  us:  with  nouns  adjectively;  e.g.,  botli 
men. 

862.  "  give  us  neither  mercy  nor  protection." 

865.  ((•«£»7i'e  =  may  know  ;  subj. 

lyie^  not;  literally,  Utile ;  cf.  Lat.  minus,  7ni>iime,  not,  by  no 
means. 

867.  (^rt«j)'5c///=  banished.  Ban,  banish,  bandit,  abandon,  are 
all  from  the  root  ban,  common  to  all  Teutonic  languages,  which 
means  a  proclamation,  an  announcement.  We  have  the  word 
still  in  use  in  "the  banns  of  marriage.''  In  French  ban  became 
baiidoji  with  the  notion  of  authority;  hence  abandon  is  to  bring 
under  the  control  of  any  one,  to  subdue;  and  as  bringing  a  per- 
son under  the  absolute  control  of  one,  necessarily  destroys  the 
previous  authority,  it  acquired  a  secondary  meaning  of  the  sur- 
render of  control.  An  "abandoned  character"  is  a  character 
which  has  thrown  off  moral  control ;  an  "  abandoned  tenement" 
is  a  tenement  over  which  the  owner  has  surrendered  his  author- 
ity. From  ban,  bando,  we  have  a  Mid.  Lat.  banire,  bandii-e,  to 
proclaim,  to  denounce,  to  publicly  order  out  of  the  realm,  to 
banish;  bandit,  one  so  banished;  and,  because  thus  put  out  of 
the  pale  of  law,  a  robber,  an  ontlaxv. 

876.  7i'o/'«/=  unfortunate,  full  of  wo. 

877.  w/y^^c^/j^  craftily,  by  using  deception,  —  not  implying 
any  moral  wrong. 

S81.  y«wj>/5£?  =  judgment,  condemnation. 

"  Ther  nas  .  .  . 
Ne  juge,  ne  justice,  that  jewis  durste  hem  deme." 

Dep.  Ric.  II.  26,  10. 
883.  bothe  rue  =  we  both  ;    cf  1.  858. 

885.  schort  conclusioun  =  a  brief  argument,  a  conclusion  briefly 
reached. 

887.  rccorifc  =  record  it,  as  the  decision  of  the  judge. 

888.  to  fiyne  yoiv  -with  the  corde,  to  put  you  to  the  torture,  to 
extort  a  confession  of  the  ti'uth. 

SSq.  sc kill  be  deed  =  ye  must  A\&.     Schul,])\.;   sing,  schal. 
890.  verray  zvommanhede  =  simply  because  of  her  woman- 
hood. 

893.  as  it  thoughte  hem  alle=^  as  it  seemed  to  them  all. 


NOTES    TO   THE  KNIGHTES   TALE.  223 

894.  "That  ever  such  an  event  should  happen." 

896.  nothing.,  adv.  =  for  nothing.     See  note  1.  845. 

S97.  A7id  5rtwe=and  when  they  saw.  When  the  subject  is 
readilj  supplied  from  the  context,  it  is  frequently  omitted.  Shak- 
speare  takes  the  same  liberty. 

sore  =  severe  ;  cf.  "It  was  a  sore  trial." 

898.  lesse  and  more ^=\ioW\  low  and  high  (in  rank).  Z,C55  and 
more  are  comparatives.  The  Earl  \  English  was  far  stricter  than 
the  modern  in  requiring  the  comparative  degree  when  there  was 
even  an  implied  comparison  between  two  terms.  So  we  have 
zvkither  for  where,  -whether  for  which,  either  for  or,  &c. 

905.  in  a  clause  :=  in  one  view;  literally,  in  one  enclosure. 
He  considers  not  only  the  trespass,  but  the  occasion  as  well. 
The  word,  in  this  sense,  is  sometimes  spelled  close,  Fr.  clause, 
Lat.  clausus,  from  claudere  to  shut;  hence  an  enclosed  place ;  a 
sentence  enclosed  in  another;  that  which  closes  an  argument, 
a  conclusion  ;   that  which  decides  an  argument. 

906.  trcspas  =  trespass.  O.  Fr.  trans-passer ;  cf.  transgress. 
The  idea  of  moral  wrong  is  generally  expressed  by  words  sig- 
nifying a  going  over  or  beyond 

908.  resoun  =  reflection,  opposed  to  the  hasty  decisions  of 
anger.  . 

913.  Of  vjommen.  Strictly  genitive  of  origin  of  the  feeling. 
The  modern  construction  is  "  had  compassion  on  women." 

Enere  i9t  oo?t  =  eMer  anon;   literally,  ever  in  one  (moment). 

915.  Fy,  an  exclamation  implying  disapprobation  or  disgust, 
—  faugh.     Fr.Ji,  Ger.  p/ui,  Gr.  (psi. 

921.  discrecioun,  literally,  ability  to  separate;  the  word  seems 
to  be  used  in  a  sense  stricter  than  the  modern. 

922.  can  no  divisioun  =  knows  no  distinction. 

923.  after  oon  =  in  the  same  manner. 

926.  in  highte ^on  high,  aloud.  From  the  idea  of  height 
the  transition  to  greatness  is  easy.  "  He  lifted  up  his  voice  and 
wept."     "  That  sabbath  was  an  high  day."    John  xix.  31. 

929.  gayneth  =  a.\a.\\,  pL     See  1.  318. 

930.  ybr  =  because  of.     Lat.  pro. 

931.  at  his  oxvne  gyse  =in  his  own  way,  at  his  pleasure. 

932.  "  As  it  may  please  him  to  devise." 

936.  Tt'//e«^  who  know;    subject  to  be  supplied. 

940.  loketh  ^\oo\i\   imperative. 

941.  if  that  he  love^^^'xi  so  be  that  he  love. 


224  NOTES    TO   THE  KNIOHTES    TALE. 

942.  ^7/f  =  sits.     This  whole  passage  is  ironical. 

946.  Nothing  that  can  happen  to  those  who  serve  Love  can 
make  them  think  that  they  have  not  acted  wisely. 

947.  for  ought,  Sic,  correlates  with  yei. 

950.  "  Is  as  much  (and  no  more)  obliged  to  them  as  to  me." 
Cau  i/iank=  acknowledge  an  obligation.     Ger.  da?ik  ivissen. 
"They  will  never  con  you  thanke."     K.  Arthur  iii.  301. 

952.  "  But  altogether  it  (Love)  must  be  experienced,  hot  or 
cold;  "   i.e.,  young  or  old. 

953.  Or — 0;-=  either  —  or. 

955.  dj  m}'sel/=-hy  my  own  experience. 
fill  yore  agon^  long  time  ago. 

956.  servant  2uas  I on^\  was  a  servant  (of  Love). 

966.  may  =:  am  able. 

967.  r/e/=part,  deal;  cf.  "  a  great  deal;  "  "  a  tenth  deal  of 
flour  "     Ex.  xxix.  40. 

96S.    "And    they    swore    to    him    fairly    and    well    what   he 

asked." 

969.   "  And  prayed  him  for  lordship  and  for  good  will.'' 

of  Lordschipe,  Sic,  genitives  after  verb  of  asking;   the  ace. 

would   be  gift,  understood.     They  acknowledged  fealty  to  him, 

which  would  preveni  their  levying  an  offensive  war  under  cover 

of  the  tournament. 

974.  tyme=^  the  proper  time.  "A  time  to  every  purpose." 
Eccl.  iii.  I. 

975.  as  for  =  with  regard  to.  Literally,  all  so  in  regard  to; 
an  emphatic  form  oi  for. 

979.  al  be.  Sic  =  although  it  be  pleasant  or  unpleasant  to  him. 

980.  A  proverb,  denoting  a  useless  occupation  ;  cf.  "  Let  him 
whistle  for  it." 

985.  As /it'm  IS  sc/iape  =  as  it  has  been  determined  for  him. 
The  ordeal  of  battle  was  a  common  method  of  appeal  to  the 
Deity. 

989.  If  that  you  likcth  :=  if  this  pleases  you. 

990.  2y^e;'=  whither.  In  E.E.  whether  and  whither  are  fre- 
quently abbreviated  into  zvherc.  The  origin  of  our  use  of  v^here 
for  zvhither  may  be  thus  explained. 

991.  daunger  =^  fine.     See  note  P.,  663. 

992.  fyfty  ivykes  ^=  a  year. 

fer  ne  neer  =^  further  nor  nearer,  more  or  less;  syncopated 
comparatives. 


NOTES    TO    THE   KNKIllTh:^    TALE.  225 

994  Armed  —  ///=uparmcd,  completely  armed;  cf.  ''used 
up." 

995.  Sec  1.  751. 

998.  7f//6'///c/-=  which  (of  two).  "Whether  of  them  twain 
did  the  will  of  his  father."     Matt.  xxi.  31. 

1000.  .«/«/(■  of=  mentioned. 

1002.  to  zujve=to  wife.      Uyve  is  dative.     See  note,  1.  431. 

1003.  w/iom  ^=  to  him,  to  whom. 

that^^  it  shall  be  that.  That  after  conjunctions  may  usually 
be  construed  with  this  ellipsis. 

1005.  rc'Tt'e^may  God  have  pity.  Cf.  "me  reweth"  =  I  am 
sorry. 

1009.  if  yon  thinketh^'xi  this  seem  to  you.  7'ou  is  dative; 
the  nominative  is  always  ye.  "Tliis  is  wel  isayd  "  is  the  subject 
of  tkiuketh. 

1016.  don — ^rrtcc  =  done  (wrought)  so  fair  a  favor. 

1017.  on  knees  =  on  his  knees.  The  old  idiom  which  allowed 
the  omission  of  the  demonstrative  or  possessive  pronoun,  in 
cases  when  such  omission  would  occasion  no  ambiguity,  is 
preferable  to  the  modern. 

mancr  -wight ^^W\\(\  of  man.  Of  is  omitted  after  manner, 
as  though  used  adjectively. 

1019.  «a;«e/)/  =  especially ;   worthy  of  mention  by  name. 
1021.  gOTitie  they  ryde  =  did  they  ride  ;    the}'  rode. 
1023.  men  ^  one,  the  indefinite  pronoun  ^=:  the  reader. 

1025.  _^o^// ^  goeth,  goes.  The  termination  e^/i  in  Chaucer's 
time  was  passing  into  s;  in  the  northern  dialects  the  pi.  cth  had 
passed  into  s.  We  use  5  only  in  place  of  the  singular  cth,  our  pi. 
having  come  from  the  plural  in  en. 

1026.  to  makcn  up  =  to  prepare.  Up  must  be  construed  with 
the  verb  as  a  separable  preposition.  From  the  idea  high  it 
readily  acquires  an  intensive  force. 

1027.  that,  correlative  of  so,  1.  1025. 

1031.  in  mancr  of  compaas=  in  the  form  of  a  circle.  Article 
omitted. 

1032.  degrees  =  steps  rising  one  above  another.  "  This  maner 
of  stage  in  half-circle  the  Greekes  called  theatrum,  as  much  to 
say  as  a  beholding  place,  which  was  also  in  such  sort  contriued 
by  benches  and  greeces  to  stand  or  set  upon,  as  no  man  should 
empeach  anothers  sight."     Puttenham,  52.     Arber. 

the  height  =  to  the  height  of.     Accusative  of  measure. 

IS 


226  NOTES   TO   TEE  KNIOHTES   TALE. 

1034.  letter  he  should  not  hinder,  subj. 

1035.  Here  begins  a  description  of  this  circular  theatre.  On 
the  north  was  the  turret  of  Diana,  with  the  oratory ;  on  the  east 
the  marble  gate,  above  which  was  the  altar  and  oratory  of  Venus  ; 
tlie  south  side  was  open  ;  on  the  west  another  marble  gate,  above 
which  was  the  altar-and  oratory  of  Mars. 

EsHvard ;   i.e.,  to  one  within. 

1037.  con-clud-e,  infinitive. 

1038.  as=  thus.  "There  was  no  such  place  in  earth,  that  is 
to  say,  in  so  little  space."  The  uses  of  as  in  E.E.  are  many  oC 
them  difficult  of  explanation,  but  can  generally  be  understood 
by  a  reference  to  the  original  meaning  all-so-  Tyrwhitt  omits 
asi  but  according  to  the  canon  that  the  most  difficult  reading  is 
probably  the  correct  one,  we  have  retained  it. 

1040.  Who  kttotvs  (was  acquainted  with)  geometry  or  arith- 
metic. 

arsmetrikc  =  arithmetic,  derived  by  a  false  etymology  from 
ars-metrica.     Gr.  uptOfirinKT/.     Gower  writes  arsmetique. 

1043.  (fct'pc  =  to  embellish.  Devise  means  to  contrive; 
hence  to  make  that  which  requires  skill.  To  make  evidently 
refers  to  the  construction  of  the  building;  while  devyse  refers  to 
the  more  elaborate  parts  of  the  same.  "  To  devise  curious 
works."     Ex.  XXXV.  32. 

1045.  hath  to  be  construed  with  don  make,  1.  1047. 

1047.  Don  make  =  caused  (them)  to  make,  caused  to  be  made. 
Don  pp.,  make  inf. 

oratorye—  a  place  of  prayer. 

1050.  coste,  pret. 

1015 1,  on  the  ■wall.  The  three  oratories  were  built  on  the  wall, 
so  as  to  be  in  full  view  from  all  parts  of  the  theatre. 

1055.  d/o«  wro«^//^  =  wrought,  caused  (to  be)  made.  "This 
should  rather  be  don  work.  The  participle  of  the  past  time  is 
improperly  put  for  the  infinitive  mode.  But  the  same  inaccuracy 
occurs  again  :  "  These  marchants  have  don  fraught  here  schippes 
newe."  Tyrwhitt.  See  1.  1047.  It  would  perhaps  be  better  to 
consider  zvrought  as  the  infinitive,  with  an  ellipsis  of  to  be. 
Cf.  "  He  has  ordered  a  house  built,"  i.e.  to  be  built. 

in  noBle  ivise  =  in  splendid  style. 

1056.  forgeten  =  neglected.  In  modern  English  the  expres- 
sion would  be,  "  I  have  forgotten."  Had  forgotten  refers  rather 
to  the  time  of  the  neglect  than  to  the  fact. 


NOTES   TO   THE  KNIOHTES   TALE.  227 

1058.  schap  refers  to  the  carving;  con^cnatifice,  to  the  pxiint- 
ings;  figures,  to  the  composition  of  the  works  of  art. 

1061.  tvrought  on  the  tval ;  i.e.,  on  the  wall  of  the  oratory. 
Morris  says,  "  vi:^,  over  the  gate  and  wall,  i.e.,  over  a  sort  of 
barbican;"  but  Chaucer  is  not  describing  the  position  of  the 
oratory,  but  of  the  paintings,  &c.,  within  the  temple;  cf.  11. 
mo,  nil. 

1062.  colde  =  sad.  An  epithet,  descriptive  of  the  effect, 
applied  to  the  cause. 

1063.  sacred  =  devoted.     Cf.  Fr.  scicrtf. 

"  To  destruction  sacred  and  devote." 

Par.  Lost,  iii.  208. 

"  The  coming  of  their  sacred  foe"  [i.e.,  Satan]. 

lb.,  iv.  7. 
teeres  =  tears.     From  a  root  signifying  to  bite ;  hence  bitter. 

1064.  desiryng  =  di&^\x&:   a  verbal  noun. 
1067.  fool-hardynesse  =  the  boldness  of  a  fool. 

1069.  lesy7tges=r^\\Q^.,  falsehood.  "Thou  shalt  destroy  them 
that  speak  leasing."     Ps.  v.  6. 

1070.  ^a5y«e55e  =:  anxiety.  "Martha,  thou  art  bisy  and  art 
troublid  aboute  ful  many  thingis."     Luke  x.  41  (Wiclif ). 

107 1.  guides  =  marigolds  :  so  called  from  their  yellow  color, 
the  color  denoting  jealousy. 

1072.  Scan  :  And  1  a  cuk  |  kow,  &c. 

1074.  Z,?<!5^  ^  pleasure,  in  no  odious  sense. 
Array.     See  P.,  330. 

circumstaunces  =  things  appertaining  to.  We  use  the  word 
surroundings  in  this  sense. 

1075.  /  rekned  have  and  schal^=I  have  recounted  and  shall 
recount.  Tyrwhitt  reads:  "Which  that  I  reken  and  reken 
shall." 

1076.  by  ordre  =  in  proper  arrangement.  Lat.  ex  ordine. 
We  also  find  the  A.S.  equivalent  arewe. 

I077-    make  of  mcncioun  =  make  mention  of. 

1081.  lustynesse  =  pleasure  ;  here  denotes  that  which  occasions 
pleasure. 

1092.  "  For  when  it  pleases  her,  then  may  she  turn  the 
world." 

as=  when.  Cf.  "What  manner  of  communications  are  these 
that  ye  have  one  to  another,  as  ye  walk."  Luke  xxiv.  17.  Tyv 
whitt  omits  than,  and  reads  liste,  subj. 


228  NOTES    TO    THE   KNIGUTES    TALE. 

1097.    Scan  :  The  stat  |  u  of  Ve  |  nus,  &c. 

iioi.  right  liond.  The  right  hand  (Lat.  rectus,  from  regcre)^ 
means  the  controlling  hand.  So  the  left  hand  has  nothing  to  do 
with  leave,  but  is  rather  O.E.  left.     O.S.  Icf,  ^veak. 

1104.  </owfe5  =  doves.  "Perhaps  from  its  habit  of  ducking 
the  head."  Wedgwood.  It  is  strange  that  Wedgwood  should 
have  departed  from  his  favorite  theory  here  :  it  seems  more  prob- 
able that  this  is  a  true  onomatopoetic  word, — the  Ger.  ^awi^c, 
A.S.  duva,  being  quite  an  exact  imitation  of  their  note. 

1 107.  as  it  IS  often  seen.  It  refers  to  the  fact  stated,  and  not 
to  any  particular  word. 

1 1 12.  in  lengthe  and  breede  =  in  length  and  breadth,  —  on  the 
sides  and  ends. 

I  [  13.  estres.  "  Les  estres  d'un  maison.  The  inward  conveyances, 
private  windings  or  turnings  within,  entries  into,  issues  out  of,  a 
Imiise."     Cotgr. 

1121.  swoiigk.  "And  what  soun  is  it  [swough]  lyke  cpiod  he 
Peter !  betynge  of  the  see 
Quod  Y,  aj/en  the  roches  holowe."  H.  of  F.,  ii.  523 

1122.  schiihle  bersten  =^  viOi\\d  burst;  i.e.,  break  by  bending. 
Shall,  originally  denoting  obligation,  easily  passes  into  the 
notion  of  futurity,  especially  with  the  added  idea  of  compulsion. 
The  past  tense  implies  an  antecedent  obligation,  and  in  like 
manner  passes  into  the  idea  of  present  or  future  action,  depend- 
ing upon  some  previous  obligation,  or  as  the  result  of  some 
previous  compulsion.  In  this  verse  the  sounds  before  mentioned 
indicate  an  accumulation  of  forces  which  will  speedily  destroy 
the  forest.  Strictly  speaking,  would  refers  to  an  antecedent 
desire,  should  to  an  antecedent  obligation. 

1 123.  doivnward ;   i.e.,  below  on  the  wall. 

under  a  bente  =  below  a  slope,  —  on  a  hill  amidst  the  forests. 

1125.  burned  ^^humh^.hed;  cf.  A.S.  byrjie,  a  coat  of  mail,  as 
though  from  byrnan,  wrought  in  the  fire,  forged;  cf.  also  bran- 
uew,  for  which  we  find  in  E.E.  fre-netv. 

1 129.  northen  light.  Some  suppose  tliat  this  refers  to  the 
aurora  borealis,  but  probably  it  denotes  only  the  dim  light  re- 
'  ceived  by  a  narrow  opening  to  the  north.  This  temple  being 
situated  on  the  west  side  of  the  theatre,  —  the  south  side  being 
open,  —  the  only  access  to  it  from  the  wall  would  be  on  the  north 
side,  which  may  have  suggested  this  description. 

1133.  /-c/f«c^et/=  strengthened  by  bars  of  iron.     The  orig- 


NOTES   TO   THE  KNIGHTES   TALE.  229 

inal  idea  of  the  word  seems  to  be  a  lump  or  mass;  aclinc/iednaU, 
is  a  nail  with  a  lump  hammered  upon  the  point.  We  clejich  the 
fist  when  we  make  the  hand  into  a  ball.  In  this  verse  iclctiched 
must  refer  to  the  protuberant  bars  of  iron  riveted  upon  the  doors 
to  strengthen  them. 

ovcrthwart  and  cndclo?ig  =^  ■acrof^a  and  endwise.  "But  Sir 
Launcelot  rode  overthvvart  and  endlong  in  a  wild  forest."  K. 
Arthur,  iii.  81. 

1 134.  ?><?«  =  iron.  A.S.  ircft,  isen,  from  rtr  (rhotacism  for  as, 
Lat.  aes)  ore,  copper,  properly  the  metal ;  hence  used  to  denote 
different  metals  as  each  became  prominent. 

1 135.  Every  filer ;  cf.  : 

"  The  building  was  a  spacious  theatre  * 

Half-round,  on  two  main  pillars  vaulted  high. 
With  seats."     Samson  Ag.  1605. 

1137.  .F/Vi-^  correlates  with  jc/ 11.  1 147,  1 153,  1 159,  dividing  the 
description  into  sections,  corresponding  to  the  sections  of  the 
painting.  In  the  first  scene  the  leading  subject  is  Felony;  in 
the  second.  Suicide;  in  the  third,  War,  with  its  attendant  out- 
rages, and  consequent  evils;    and  lastly,  Conquest. 

Tmagi7iy7ig  =  conception  ;   opposed  to  compassyng. 

1 138.  fclonye.  According  to  Spelman,  hovnfec,  goods,  estate, 
and  Ion  which  signifies  price  or  value.  See  Blackstone,  Com.  iv. 
95.  K  felon  is  thus  one  whose  property  or  estate  has  been  confis- 
cated as  a  punishment  for  crime.  Because  death  was  the  usual 
punishment  of  such  crimes  as  worked  a  forfeiture  of  estate,  felony 
frequently  denotes  a  capital  crime. 

compassy7ig.  "  Compassing  or  imagi?iitig  the  death  of  the 
king  are  synonymous  terms  :  the  word  compass  signifying  the  pur- 
pose or  design  of  the  mind  or  will,  and  not  as  in  common  speech 
the  carrying  such  design  into  effect."  Blackstone  iv.  78.  Mor- 
ris explains  the  word  as  cotitrivance. 

1 140.  rt'/'Cffc  ^  one  who  causes  dread:  perhaps  here  to  be  ex- 
plained from  its  connection  with  pike-purse  as  a  house-breaker. 
The  original  notion  of  dread  is  that  of  trembling  through  fear. 
Milton  calls  Satan  "our  Dread." 

1 141.  smyler  =  one  who  hides  cruel  purpose  under  a  cloak  of 
good-will;  "The  treacherous  smile,  a  mask  for  secret  hate." 
Cowper.     Wharton  in  his  Hist.  Eng.  Poetry  reads  smiter. 

"  I  speak  of  peace,  while  covert  enmity 
Under  the  smile  of  safety,  woimds  the  world." 

2  Kg.  Hen.  IV.,  Ind 


230  NOTES    TO   THE  KNIQHTES    TALE. 

1 142.  sckcpue  =  stables.     A.S.  scypcn  ;  Tyrwhitt  reads  shcpcn 

1 143.  ^^e50««  =  treachery  ;    here  contrasted  with  open  iverre. 

1144.  bi-bled=h&-h\<td;  ^-c  =  the  transitive  prefix. 

1149.  a-nygki  =  ^t  night.  Alhiding,  as  Morris  suggests,  to 
the  death  of  Sisera,  the  Canaanitish  general,  whom  Jael  slew. 
Tyrwhitt  reads  on  flight. 

1 150.  colde  deth  =  cold  dead  body. 

1151.  meschatince.  '•  Desconfort  and  scry  countenauncc " 
qualify  meschaunce- 

I154.  Armed  complaint  =  riot.  An  idea  caught  by  the  poet 
probably  from  the  troublous  times  of  Wat  Tyler's  rebellion.  It 
here  means  the  presentation  of  a  complaint  by  an  armed  body 
of  mefi. 

onthecs  =  outcry.     "  From   kutcsium,  a  term  well   known    in 

our  law."     T. 

outrage  =  excess.  This  word  has  no  connection  with  rage, 
but  is  a  form  assumed  from  Low  Latin,  ultragium,  from  u/tra. 
Gower  writes  oultrage. 

1157-  y-raft  =  seized,  plundered.  Reave  is  now  nearly  obso- 
lete, and  bereave  has  so  far  lost  its  original  meaning,  as  to  lose 
the  idea  of  injustice;  so  that  the  death  of  a  friend  is  called  a 
bercaveme7it. 

1 1^9.  hoppesteres.  Tyrwhitt  explains  by  tf^wc/wi^,  from  hop- 
pian.  to  dance;  hoppestre,  a  female  dancer.  Speght  explains  it 
h\  pilots.  Others  with  greater  probability  explain  it  as  =  o/- 
postercs,  opposing,  hostile.  This  explanation  is  supported  by 
Boccacio's  Version  of  Statins,  which  reads  "  navi  bellatrici." 

1160.  ivitk  =hy;  cf.  "  killed  with  kindness."     Seel.  1164. 

1 161.  freten  ==  to  devour;  to  be  construed  with  saugk. 

1162.  Probably  a  proverbial  expression  for  one  suffering  mis- 
fortune in  spite  of  every  precaution ;  cf.  Sq.  Tale,  256. 

"Therfore  behoveth  him  a  ful  long  spone 
That  shal  ete  witli  a  fend." 

1163.  ^'j' =  concerning.  By  originally  means  near;  cf.  "T 
know  nothing  by  myself;"  i.e.,  concerning  (against)  myself 
I  Cor.  iv.  4. 

Of  Marte.  Alluding  to  the  supposed  malign  influence  of 
the  planet  Mars  in  one's  horoscope. 

1167.  s/«y// =  one  who  forges  with  a  hammer.  "The  S7nith 
has  his  name  from  the  sturdy  blows  that  he  smites  upon  the 
anvil."     Trench. 


NOTES    TO    THE  KNIQHTE8   TALE.  231 

1 171.  Scan  :  With  |  the  scharp  |  e  svverd  |  &c. 

1 172.  sotil  tiviue  =  finely  spun.      Txvine  =  twined. 

1173.  y«//V«  =  Julius  Caesar,  slain  by  Brutus  and  the  con- 
spirators. 

1 174.  Nero,  the  Roman  Emperor,  who  was  slain  bj'  the  popu- 
lace. 

Anfkouhis,  Mark  Antony,  slain  in  Egypt. 

1 176.  thcr  byfoni  =^heiore  it  happened.  Observe  that  /Jicr  is 
a  pronoun  in  the  dative. 

1 177.  ;«rt;/rt5j7/^=  threatening;  that  is,  by  the  aspect  of  Mars 
in  their  horologe. 

figure  =  a  representation  of  the  position  of  the  planets  at 
their  birth.     An  astrologer  was  called  a  "figure-flinger." 

1 181.   Sufficeth=^\&\.  one  example  suffice. 

11S3.  statue,  trisyllable.  "It  is  certain  that  statue  was  fre- 
quently written  statua  in  Shakspeare's  age;  Bacon,  for  example, 
always,  I  believe,  so  writes  it;  and  it  is  not  impossible  that  its 
full  pronunciation  may  have  always  been  trisyllabic,  and  that  it 
became  a  dissyllable  only  by  the  two  short  vowels,  as  in  other 
cases,  being  run  together  so  as  to  count  prosodically  only  for 
one."  Craik's  E.  of  Shak.  246.  The  usual  pronunciation  in 
Chaucer  is  trisyllabic. 

carte  =  chariot,  car.  Cart  is  an  abbreviation  o{  chariot,  and 
is  properly  a  diminutive  of  car.  We  use  car  in  an  elevated  sense, 
—  cart  always  in  an  inferior,  making  the  distinction  in  office 
chiefly.  Chariot,  which  now  is  used  to  denote  a  costly  and  stately 
vehicle,  in  E.E.  was  used  synonymously  with  cart.  "There  came 
by  a  chariot,  the  which  came  thither  for  to  fetch  wood.  'Tell  me, 
carter,'  said  Sir  Launcelot,  'what  I  shall  give  thee  for  to  suffer 
me  to  leape  into  the  chariot.?'"     K.  Arthur  iii.  251. 

1 184.  as  =  as  if.     The  if  is  implied  by  the  subjunctive  iverc. 

1186.  bcti  clepcd=v.re  called.  Are  is  a  comparatively  late 
word  in  English. 

scriptures  =  writings.  Now  restricted  to  the  Holy  Scriptures, 
as  the  Bible  is  to  the  book,  by  way  of  eminence. 

1 187.  Scan  :  That  oon  |  Puella  |  &c. 

Pticlla  a?id  Rubeus  =  "  the  names  of  two  figures  in  geomancy, 
representing  two  constellations  in  heaven ;  Puella,  signifieth 
Mars  retrograde,  and  Rubeus,  Mars  direct."     Speght's  Gloss. 

1 188.  a  rayed  :=  iiet  out  with  ornamental  surroundings;  to  put 
in  order  for  the  sake  of  ornament,  usually  applied  to  dress ;  but 


232  NOTES    TO    the:   KNIGI1TE8    TALE. 

sometimes,  as  here,  denoting  tlie  adjustment  of  parts,  as  in  a 
painting,  of  troops  in  an  army,  "in  battle  array;"  to  array  a 
jury,  that  is  to  call  them  man  by  man. 

1 191.  Scan  :  With  sot  1  yl  pence'l  |  depeynt  |  ed  was  |  this 
storie. 

Tyrwhitt  reads  peynted,  which  corrects  the  metre. 

1197.  of  huntvng ;  i.e.,  with  scenes  descriptive  of. 

1 198.  Calystopc^=  Callisto,  a  daughter  of  Lycaon  ;  she  was  a 
companion  of  Diana. 

1202.  /  can  say  no  fcrrc  =  I  can  say  no  more  =  I  do  not  vouch 
for  the  truth  of  the  story. 

1204.  Z)«»e  =  Daphne,  who  was  changed  into  a  laurel,  that 
she  might  escape  the  violent  suit  of  Apollo. 

1207.  Atheon  =  KcX.tow,  who  was  changed  by  Diana  into  a 
stag,  and  torn  in  pieces  by  his  own  dogs,  for  his  irreverence. 

1212-  ^^//rt/ffww/e  =  Atalanta,  a  famous  huntress. 

1213.  Af('/(7rt^;-c  =  Meleager,  a  famous  Calydonian  hunter. 

many  anoi/icy  mo  =^m^Viy  another  besides.  A.S.  ;««  is  used 
in  this  sense. 

1215.  wonder  =  wonderful.  Wondcr-storye  is  properly  a  com- 
pound noun.  When  two  nouns  are  joined,  the  first  being  used 
adjectively,  it  would  be  more  philosophical  to  consider  the  two 
as  one  compound. 

1216.  "The  which  I  do  not  care  to  call  to  mind." 

me  list  not  ^=  it  pleases  me  not.  Dratvc  (to  drawen)  is  the 
subject  of  list. 

1220.  Just  coming  to  the  full,  and  therefore  best  suited  for 
hunting. 

schtildc  =  would. 

1221.  gaude  greefie  =  light  green,  the  favorite  color  of 
hunters. 

1224.  TJier  z=  v/here.  In  such  case  the  word  formed  from  the 
demonstrative  is  more  strictly  correct  than  the  usual  word  formed 
from  the  interrogative. 

1229.   "  Well  could  he  who  wrought  it  paint  life-like." 

1231.    Tkespus  dative  after  likede,  1.  1234. 

1234.  hym  likede  =^\t  pleased  him;  it  was  pleasing  to  him. 
Hym  refers  to  Theseus.  When  the  sentence  is  long,  and  the  verb 
at  quite  a  distance  from  the  subject,  a  pronoun  referring  to  the 
subject  is  in.serted  just  before  the  verb;  in  this  case  the  verb 
being  impersonal,  the  leading  subject  of  the  sentence  is  thrown 


NOTES    TO   THE  KNIOHTES    TALE.  233 

into  the  dative,  and  thus  the  pronoun  which  is  inserted  is  thrown 
into  that  case.  "  And  hit  licode  Herode."  "  And  pleside  to 
Eroude."     Matt.  xiv.  6  (Wiclif). 

1238.  schulde  here  denotes  obligation. 

1240.  Scan  :  And  til  |  Athenes  |  here  cov  |  enant  |  to  hold. 

1243.  "  And  truly  many  a  man  there  thought  that  never  since 
the  world  began  was  there  to  be  seen,  to  speak  of  the  knighthood 
of  either  party,  as  wide  as  God  has  made  sea  or  land,  so  noble  a 
company,  and  yet  so  few;"  that  is,  so  many  nobles  in  so  small  a 
company. 

1245.  As.,  namely,  that  is.  See  Abbott,  Shak.  Gr.  §  113.  As 
is  here  used  restrictively  =  for  instance;  it  does  not  serve  to 
introduce  an  example,  but  to  limit  the  extent  of  the  preceding 
statement. 

1249.  ^rts.trtw/^  surpassing;  a  name  passing  from  mouth  to 
mouth;  i.e.,  re-tioivncd. 

1250.  of  that  game ;  i.e.,  one  of,  a  sharer  of  that  game;  par- 
titive. 

1251.  ivel  -was  him  ^=  weal  was  to  him,  well  was  it  for  him. 
ther  to  =  X.o  \\..      There  in   composition  with    prepositions    re- 
tains its  pronominal  force. 

1252.  if  ther  felle  such  a  caas  =  if  such  an  opportunity  should 
happen. 

1253.  itisty  =  vigorous;  that  state  of  body  which  gives  pleas- 
ure. 

1254.  fiaramours  =  gallantry,  gallant  actions.  iLiterally, 
"  with  loves."  See  1.  297.  What  at  first  was  a  descriptive  epi- 
thet came  in  time  to  be  used  as  a  noun,  designating  the  thing  so 
described ;  thus  far  amour  passed  into  the  noun  paramour,  de- 
noting (ist)  gallantry,  (2d)  lover,  or  the  person  inspiring  gal- 
lantry or  love.     Either  meaning  will  suit  here. 

hath  his  might ;  i.e.,  is  not  sick  or  wounded. 

1255.  it,  i.e.,  the  opportunity. 

1256.  wolde  ivilnc  =  would  wish. 

1257.  To  fighte,  infinitive,  used  substantively. 

1258.  were  =  would  be. 

to  see  =  to  be  seen.     Gerundial ;  cf.  "  a  house  to  let." 

1259.  right  so  ;  i.e.,  inspired  by  similar  feelings. 
1261.   Som  =  one;  cf.  somme,  pi.  1.  I26.'l. 

■zvol  =  prefer. 

1263.   somme,  pi.  of  som. 


234  NOTES    TO    THE   KNIGHTES    TALE. 

peyre  plates  =  armor  for  the  breast  and  back;  double  plates, 
contrasted  with  breastplates. 

1267.  "There  is  no  new  contrivance  that  was  not  known  of 
old,"  —  as  though  defending  himself  from  the  charge  of  anach- 
ronism in  arming  his  knights  in  the  armor  of  his  day. 

1269.  after  his  opinioun  =  according  to  his  choice. 

1270.  Thcr  maistoxv  sen  =  there  majst  thou  see. 
1274.    They^   redundant. 

1276.  kempe  =  coarse,  shaggy.  Kemps  =  hair  among  wool. 
From  A.S.  cemban  to  comb;  hence  that  which  is  combed,  as 
hair;  also  that  which  is  combed  out,  snarled  or  knotted  hair. 

1277.  bra-viics  =  the  muscular  parts  of  the  body,  particularly 
(as  here)  the  calf  of  the  leg,  and  the  fleshy  parts  of  the  arms. 

1283.  naylcs  yehve  =  y&Wow  buttons,  resembling  the  heads 
of  nails. 

12S4.  for-old^xery  old.  Morris.  Tyrwhitt  reads  "  for  old" 
=  for  age.     The  former  is  preferable. 

12S7.  w/-t'///c  ^  wreath.  The  A.S.  verb  has  two  forms, — 
zvrethiati  and  tvritkian,  —  both  of  which  are  preserved  in  modern 
English,  but  with  a  divergence  of  meaning. 

1289.  rubies^  ?i  precious  stone  of  red  color.     Lat.  rubeus. 
dyamatmtz^A\^mox\A^,  —  a  corruption  oi  adamant.     We  here 

see  the  word  in  a  transitional  state. 

1290.  alaiititz=a  species  of  dog.  '■'■  Alano  is  the  Spanish 
name  of  a  species  of  dog  which  the  dictionaries  call  a  mas- 
tiiY."     T. 

1294.    Colers,  supply  ivith. 
fyled  rounde,  —  so  as  to  turn  easily. 

1300.  cloth  of  gold  ^^^  cloth,  with  gold  threads  inwoven. 

dyaprcd^=  wrought  in  flourishes,  ornamented. 

"And  it  [the  bow]  was  painted  well  and  thwitten  [carved] 
And  over  all  diapred  and  written."  Rom.  R.,  934. 
This  word  is  from  the  Latin  Jaspis,  a  jasper  stone,  —  the  colors 
of  which  are  often  in  stripes  and  figures,  whence  it  was  much 
used  in  ornamental  jewelry.  The  verb,  derived  from  the  noun, 
soon  came  to  denote  a  species  of  ornamentation  resembling  the 
natural  marks  of  the  jasper;  and  from  this  verb,  we  have  again 
derived  a  noun  denoting  cloth  with  a  pattern  inwoven,  —  diaper. 
Fr.  diaspre. 

1302.  cloth  of  Tars=a  kind  of  silk.  "  Tartarian  cloths  are  so 
skilfully  woven  that  no  painter  with  his  brush  could  equal,  much 


NOTES   TO    THE   KNIGHTES   TALE.  235 

less  surpass,  them."  Quoted  from  Boccaccio  in  Longfellow's  Dante 
I.  283. 

1307.  «Vw/«^  =  arranged.     Morris  explains  by  "clotted." 

"  cheveux  aimelez.  liaire  frizzled,  curled,  or  twirled  round,  01 
into  round  knots."      Cot. 

131 1.  y)'e^«<75^  freckles.  Probably  another  form  o'i  Jicckoi, 
spots. 

1313.   ca$tc  =  threw  around. 

[314.  c«5^c=  should  judge.  There  was  no  objection  in 
Chaucer's  day  to  using  the  same  words  as  rhymes  if  their  signi- 
fication was  different.  Gower  frequently  uses  a  noun  and  a  \erb 
from  the  same  root 

^3^5-  s^pi'yngc  =  to  spring  up,  to  grow.  So  spring  is  the  sea- 
son in  which  vegetation  sprouts.  The  original  idea  seems  to  be 
to  rise  up. 

1320.  tame.  A  tame  animal  is  literally  one  subdued,  one  that 
will  obey  man. 

1323.  /;/  alle  matter  thinges  ^  in  all  manner  of  things  ;  i.e.,  in 
all  kinds  of  armor. 

1327.  on  every  fart  ^  on  every  side. 

1328.  Icfart  =  leopard.  "  The  leopard  was  not  for  the  Greek 
and  Latin  zoologists  a  species  by  itself,  but  a  mongrel  birth  of 
the  male  panther  or  pard  and  the  lioness;  and  in  its  name 
'leopard'  (or  lion-pard)  this,  its  assumed  double  descent,  is  ex- 
pressed."    Trench. 

1329.  alle  and  some  ^  ox\fi  and  all;  literally,  "  all  and  one." 
For  this  use  of  sottie,  cf.  11.  397,  1261-1265.  "  Summe  other  alle." 
An.  R.,  28. 

1330.  Beett  coitte  =^  iire  come ;  intransitive  perfect. 

t/te  Sotiday.  Palamon  escaped  May  3d  (1.  605)  and  meets 
Arcite :  this  day  was  Friday,  11.  676,  6S1.  Their  duel  was  the 
next  day,  —  Saturday,  May  5th.  They  were  to  meet  that  day 
fifty  weeks,  which  must  be  taken  as  meaning  a  year.  May  5th 
the  next  year  would  be  Sunday. 

1331.  prittie  =  six  o'clock  in  the  morning.  "  The  first  quarter 
of  the  artificial  day."  T.  In  the  Catholic  Church,  the  next  ser- 
vice after  matins,  and  hence  the  usual  hour  of  such  service. 

alight,  to  be  construed  with  been. 

1334.  evervch  at  his  degre  =  each  according  to  his  rank. 

1336.  To  esen  hem  =  to  entertain  them.  See  P.,  29  and  note; 
P.,  768  and  note. 

1338.  Of  tioti  estat  qualifies  matt,  to  be  understood  from 
mantles. 


236  NOTES   TO   THE  KNIOHTES   TALE. 

1340.  moste  and  leste  =  greatest  and  least ;  highest  and  lowest 
We  generally  use  more  and  mosi  distributivelj. 

I34I'  pulleys  =  palace.  "  A  palace  is  now  the  abode  of  a  royal 
family;  but  if  we  look  at  the  history  of  the  name,  we  are  soon 
carried  back  to  the  shepherds  of  the  Seven  Hills.  There,  on  the 
Tiber,  one  of  the  seven  hills  was  called  the  Collis  Palatintis,  and 
the  hill  was  called  Palatimts,  from  Pales,  a  pastoral  deity  whose 
festival  was  celebrated  every  year  on  the  21st  of  April,  as  the 
birth-day  of  Rome.  It  was  to  commemoirate  the  day  on  which 
Romulus,  the  wolf-child,  was  supposed  to  have  drawn  the  first 
furrow  on  the  foot  of  that  hill,  and  thus  to  have  laid  the  foun- 
dation of  the  most  ancient  part  of  Rome,  the  Po7na  ^iiadrata. 
On  this  hill  the  Collis  Palatums  stood ;  in  later  times,  the 
houses  of  Cicero,  and  of  his  neighbor  and  enemy  Cataline. 
Augustus  built  his  mansion  on  the  same  hill,  and  his  example 
was  followed  by  Tiberius  and  Nero.  Under  Nero  all  private 
houses  had  to  be  pulled  down  on  the  Collis  Palatinus,  to  make 
room  for  the  Emperor's  residence,  the  Domus  Aurea,  as  it  was 
called,  the  Golden  House.  This  house  of  Nero's  was  henceforth 
called  the  Palatinus,  and  it  became  the  type  of  all  the  palaces 
of  the  kings  and  emperors  of  Europe."  M.  Miiller,  Sc.  of  Lang. 
ii.  267. 

1343-  ^c^'^  =  might  be,  were. 

best  daunsyn^e  =^  best  at  dancing.  The  retention  of  final  « 
indicates  an  inflection;  the  construction  in  A.S.  would  be  a 
genitive,  limiting  the  scope  of  the  adjective.  We  are  obliged  to 
supply  the  loss  of  inflection  with  a  preposition  having  the  same 
force. 

1344.  daunce  —  singe,  infinitives. 

1345-  felyngly='\n  a  manner  indicating  the  possession  of  the 
feeling.  The  word  means,  actively,  touchingly;  passively,  in  a 
manner  indicating  sensibility. 

1351.    The  Sonday  night.     The  feast  lasted  all  day  Sunday. 

TV  5/ryw^c  =  to  dawn  ;  cf.  "  The  day  spring  from  on  high." 
Luke  i.  78. 

^353-  ncre  nought  =  ne  ivere  nought  =  were  not. 

1355-  f^oly  here  refers  not  so  much  to  state  as  to  temporary 
purpose. 

^359-  ftire  hour=hcv  hour.  The  hours  of  the  day  and  night 
were  allotted  to  the  planets  according  to  the  following  rule: 
The  first  hour  of  each   day  belongs   to  the  planet  for  which  the 


NOTEH    TO    THE  KNKJllTEti    TALE.  237 

day  is  named;  then  tlie  succeeding  hours  to  the  phinets  in  tin; 
tbllowniL;  oiiier :  Saturn.  Jupiter,  Mars,  Sol,  Venus,  Mercury, 
Luna.  Tlie  tvvcntj-third  hour  of  Sunday  (reckoning  from  davvnj 
would  therefore  belong  to  Venus. 

1363.  lady  ;«j'«  =  ladj  of  me.  My/t  is  genitive,  not  pos- 
sessive. 

1365.  g-ladcre=  one  who  makes  glad. 

1366.  Adcou7i  =  Adonis. 

1367.  Have  pitc  of=--  have  pity  (on  me)  because  of.  Pity  is 
here  followed  by  a  gen.  of  source. 

1370.    Thcffcctcs  =  \.\\Q  forces,  the  power. 

1373.  ;«c'rcy  =  grant  mercy. 

1374.  /"^tfw^-;^^^  anxiety,  melancholy.  So  used  in  the  Bible 
and  in  Shakspeare.  "  Take  no  thought  for  the  morrow."  Matt, 
vi.  25.  "Take  thought  and  die  for  Caesar."  J.  C.  ii.  i.  The 
verb  to  think  is  also  used  in  the  same  meanings. 

1377.  Emforth^=\.o  the  extent  of,  according  to;  literally, 
even  forth.     Em  in  composition  denotes  even,  equal. 

1379.  50 ^provided  that,  if  so  be  that.  Sometimes  that  fol- 
lows as  used  in  this  sense. 

1380.  j^/^c  =  boast.  The  meanings  are:  (ij  to  cry  like  a 
dog,  (2)  to  talk  loudly,  (3)  to  boast. 

1381.  Scan  :   N'  I  n'  aske  |  nat  to  |  morwe  |  to  ha\e  |  victorie. 
13S3.  ^r/A  =  victory  in  arms. 

blowen  ;  i.e.,  by  the  trump  of  fame  ;  by  the  heralds  announc- 
ing the  victor. 

1386.  hozv  =  in  what  way. 

13S7.  but  it  may  better  be  =  unless  it  may  be  better.  "  I  care 
not  whether  I  win  the  victory  or  he,  unless  as  one  or  the  other 
may  be  better  for  my  suit." 

1390.  though  so  i^e  =  though  it  so  be;  in  which  case  //  refers 
to  the  sentence,  "  Mars  is  god  of  armes." 

1407.  Scan  :  But  at  |  te  laste  |  the  stat  |  u  of  Ve  |  nus  schook. 

1408.  ^oo/('=  conjectured,  deduced.  Still  used  thus  in  collo- 
quial language.     'You   take  me  right."     Bacon.     There  seems 

'to  be  a  connection  between  the  words  take  and  teach, — A.S. 
tacan,  iaecan,  Gr.  SEXOjiai,  deLKvvfiL,  —  so  that  this  colloquial  use 
may  be  only  a  relic  of  a  former  well-recognized  meaning. 

1412.  wc«^c  =  turned  :  pret.  of  we;/f/e.  Cf.  "  To  wend  one's 
way." 

1413.  thridde  hour  that ^=  the  third  hour  after  that;    i.e.,  the 


238  NOTES    TO   THE  KNIQHTE8   TALE. 

first  hour  of  Monday,  and  hence  sacred  to  Diana  or  Luna.  See 
note,  1.  1359. 

inequal.  "  In  the  astrological  system,  the  day  (from  sunrise 
to  sunset)  and  the  night  (from  sunset  to  sunrise)  being  e^ch 
divided  into  twelve  hours,  it  is  plain  that  the  hours  of  the  day 
and  niglit  were  never  equal,  except  just  at  the  equinoxes.  The 
hours  attributed  to  the  planets  were  of  this  unequal  sort."  T. 
By  the  use  of  this  term  Chaucer  calls  attention  to  the  astrological 
hour,  and  indicates,  without  saying  so,  that  this  hour  was  sacred 
to  Diana. 

1418.  Fill  rcdily^  all  ready  for  use. 

1420.  lougi-n  scluil^=  ought  to  belong,  properly  belong.  Schal 
is  here  used  in  its  original  sense  of  obligation. 

1421.  /;£>;-«c5^  drinking  horns.  The  fact  that  drinking  cups 
were  originally  made  out  of  horns,  so  that  they  could  not  be  put 
down  unless  emptied,  is  preserved  in  the  colloquial  use  of  the 
word,  to  denote  a  drink. 

1423.  Sinokyng  the  temple  =  \wh\\Q  the  temple  was  smoking 
(with  the  incense).     An  imitation  of  the  A.S.  dative  absolute. 

1425.  tt'f//c:=  spring.  We  speak  of  the  "  welling  up"  of  water. 
Hence  a  source,  as  Chaucer  is  called  "  a  well  of  English  unde- 
filed ;  "  finally  its  meaning  has  become  restricted  to  the  most 
common  source  of  obtaining  water,  —  a  pit  sunk  into  the  ground. 

1427.   '•  Except  it  be  something  in  general  terms." 

1429.  Cf.  ''To  the  pure  all  things  are  pure." 

1430.  '"It  is  good  that  a  man  be  free;"  that  is,  from  the 
temptation  hinted  at  in  the  preceding  line.  It  refers  to  the 
infinitive  phrase. 

1434.  Ttiofyres,  —  one  for  each  of  her  lovers. 

1435.  ^//w/_^e5=  important  duties.  "The  primitive  meaning 
seems  to  be  discourse,  then  solemn  discussion,  judicial  consider- 
ation, council,  court  of  justice,  lawsuit,  cause,  sake,  matter,  or 
subject  of  discourse."  Wedgwood.  Hence,  also,  any  matter  of 
importance. 

1444.  ^l.<=  namely.  ^5  =  all-so,  —  all  merely  emphasizing 
so:   its  precise  force  here  is  "  so  by  all  means." 

1445.  abougkte  z=  su't^Qred  for,  paid  for;  pret.  oi  abye.  The 
original  sense  is  to  buy,  with  the  stress  laid  upon  the  price  paid, 
rather  than  on  the  fact  of  purchase. 

1446.  Scan  :  Chaste  |  goddess  |  e  wel  |  wost  thou  |  that  I. 
1454.  yc  may  and  kan  =  ye  are  able  and  know  how  to. 


NOTES    TO    THE  KNIGHTES   TALE.  239 

1455.  t/trcfor)nes,  alluding  to  the  fabled  three  tbrms  of  Diana, 
—  on  earth  Diana,  in  heaven  Luna,  in  hell  Proserj)ina, — 
denoting  the  three  marked  forms  of  the  moon,  full,  horned,  and 
dark. 

1458.  ivithoutcii  more  =  without  asking  any  thing  further. 

1467.  As  =  in  that  ease. 

1471.  maydenhode  =  maidenhood.  The  termination  hood 
( A.S.  /iad)  denotes  state,  condition;  it  is  sometimes  written 
head;  e.g.,  godhead. 

1477.  qnykedc  =  revived.  "  And  you  hath  he  quickened." 
Eph.  ii.  I. 

1480.  his  =  its.  Its  is  not  found  in  Chaucer,  nor  did  it  come 
into  use  until  more  than  two  hundred  years  later.  The  neuter 
pronoun  was  originally  hit,  of  which  the  genitive  was  his. 

14S1.  c>«i'-rrt«  =  ran  out.  When  a  preposition  is  compounded 
with  a  verb,  and  the  proper  force  of  both  is  retained,  we  place 
the  preposition  after  the  verb;  but  if  the  sense  of  either  is  modi- 
fied by  the  composition,  the  preposition  is  placed  first,  and  the 
two  words  coalesce.     Out-run  now  means  to  surpass  in  running. 

1482.  many  con  =  many  a  one.     See  note,  P.  168. 

1484.  and  ^an  to  crie,  —  a  fine  touch  of  nature. 

1495.  may  nat  =  am  not  able,  cannot. 

1502.  7nade  a  vanysschynge  =  wixm&hQd;  cf.  "And  the  wynd 
ceeside,  and  greet  pesiblenesse  is  maad."     Mark  iv.  39  (Wiclif ). 

1504.  amounteth  —  to  what  does  this  amount.? 

1507.  nexte  =  nearest.  Next  is  the  regular  superlative  of  neah, 
near;  but  we,  having  lost  its  connection  with  near,  have  formed 
a  new  superlative. 

1509.  The  nexte  houre  of  Mars  would  be  the  fourth  hour  of 
the  day.     See  note,  1.  1359. 

15  ID.   xvalked  is  ^  has  walked. 

1512.  payen  wise  =  pagan  custom.  Pagan,  Lat.  paganus, 
a  villager,  has  reached  its  modern  meaning  thus:  (i)  villager, 
(2)  heathen  villager,  (3)  heathen.     See  note  P.,  70. 

1518.  "  Hast  complete  control  of  the  issue  of  all  contests  in 
arms." 

15 19.  as  the  lust  devyse  =  as  it  pleases  thee  to  ordain. 

1523-  godhede  =  godhead.  The  termination  hood,  head,  de- 
notes state  or  office,  and  is  thus  adapted  to  the  euphemism  of 
using  the  abstract  for  the  concrete  noun. 

that  =  so  that,  to  that  degree  that. 


240  NOTES    TO    THE   KNIOHTES    TALE. 

1537.  lyves  =  alive,  living,  —  an  adverb  formed  from  the  gen- 
itive, like  ncedes,  thankcs. 

1538.  doth  —  endure  =  causes  me  to  endure. 

1539.  -iv/icr  I  syiike  or  J/eeie  =  whether  I  may  sink  or  float. 
These  verbs  are  subjunctive. 

1546.  "As  severely  as  this  fire  now  burneth  me."  Tyrwhitt 
reads  :  "  as  wel  as  that  this  fyr,"  &c. 

1548.  travaile  =  labor,  toil.  Travel  is  another  orthography 
of  the  same  word.  It  originally  denoted  any  uncommon  or 
painful  eftbrt,  and  before  the  modern  conveniences  was  not 
inaptly  used  to  denote  making  a  journey.  In  like  manner  the 
German  Arbeit  has  passed  from  labor  to  travel. 

1551.  In  thy plesaunce  =  in  that  which  affords  thee  pleasure; 
i.e.,  war. 

1552.  /  7Vol  my  bafier  honge ;  i.e.,  as  a  trophy:  cf.  "Our 
bruised  arms  hung  up  for  monuments."     Rich.  III.  i.  i. 

1557.  berd.  Among  the  ancients,  particularly  the  Eastern 
nations,  the  beard  was  held  sacred  as  a  pledge  of  manhood. 
Consecrating  the  beard  was  therefore  a  consecration  of  his 
manhood. 

1559.  schere  =  shears,  —  now  used  only  in  the  plural. 

1563.    The  preyere  stynte,  —  the  absolute  construction. 

1566.   "At  which  Arcita  was  somewhat  terrified." 

Of  which.,  genitive  of  the  source  of  the  feeling. 

Hym  agaste,  —  an  imitation  of  the  French  idiom, —  forming 
a  sort  of  middle  voice. 

1573.  bigan  his  hauberk  ryiige  =  rattled  his  armor  in  token 
of  assent. 

1575.  ^»?  =  indistinct.  Properly  applied  to  objects  of  sight; 
dumb  is,  however,  allied,  and  denotes  rather  inarticulate  sounds 
than  total  inability  to  speak.  Wedgwood  allies  dim  to  dam, 
with  the  original  signification  to  stop. 

"  He  herde  a  vols  which  criede  dimme." 

Gower,  Con.  Am.  ii.  293. 

1577.  ivel  to  fare  =  to  succeed,  to  fare  well. 

1579.   "  As  glad  (at  his  success)  as  is  the  bird  of  the  bright  sun." 

1585.  pale  Saturiius  the  colde,  —  alluding  to  the  supposed 
astrological  influence  of  the  planet,  which  idea  we  have  retained 
in  the  adjective  saturnine,  gloomy,  stern.  For  further  remnants 
of  these  astrological  ideas,  cf.  Jovial,  from  Jupiter;  mercurial, 
from  Mercury ;  martial,  from  Mars,  &c. 


NOTES   TO   THE  KNIGHTE8   TALE.  241 

1586.  Saturn  was  fabled  to  be  the  oldest  god. 

Maiiye  of  aventiircs.  We  say  "many  adventures,"  —  as  also 
"  a  thousand  men,"  in  which  case  the  singular  article  shows  that 
men  is  used  in  the  genitive  =  of  men. 

1591.   "One  may  outrun  the  old,  but  not  outwit  them." 

1593.  Al-be-it  =  although. 

kynde  =  nature.  "  For  kindnesse  [i.e.,  feeling  of  kinship] 
he  wept  ful  tenderly."  K.Arthur  iii.  221.  In  O.E.  7inkind  = 
unnatural.  "The  kindly  fruits  of  the  earth."  The  idea  of  rela- 
tionship or  community  of  nature  underlies  all  these  words. 

1596.  In  the  time  of  Chaucer,  Saturn  was  the  outermost  of 
the  known  planets,  and  thus  had  the  ividesi  orbit. 

1597-  The  following  lines  specify  the  astrological  influences 
of  this  malign  planet. 

159S.  drenchyng  =  Axo^wm^.  Many  intransitive  verbs  be- 
come transitive  in  A.S.  by  a  change  of  the  vowel.  We  have 
retained  a  few,  as  sit,  set ;  lie,  lay:  drench  is  from  drencan,  the 
causative  form  of  drincau,  to  drink;  so  tkencan,  to  think,  from 
thincatt,  to  seem. 

I599'  pyisouu  in  the  derke  cote  =  imprisonment  in  the  dark 
cell;  i.e.,  as  a  lunatic.  See  Burton  Anat.  Mel.,  pt.  i,  sec.  2, 
memb.  i,  subs.  4. 

1600.  strangle  =  choking.  "  Our  Saxon  ancestors  compelled 
the  adulteress  to  strangle  herself."  Morris's  Gloss,  refers  the 
definition  strongly  to  this  line, — probably  a  misprint. 

1601.  ;««/';«;</'t' =  murmuring;  i.e.,  the  complaint  preceding 
a  rebellion. 

c^t';-/t'5^ churls.  A.S.  ceorl,  a  man.  We  similarly  use  the 
word  men,  to  denote  laborers  or  servants;  cf.  "Like  master, 
like  man." 

1602.  groyning ^=stahh'ing  (Morris)  as  though  from  the  noun 
groin,  a  point.  Tyrwhitt  explains,  "  to  hang  the  lip  in  dis= 
content." 

1603.  pleyu  correctioim  =  full  punishment. 

1604.  signe  of  the  lyoun  ^  the  constellation  Leo. 

1609.  maladies  colde  =  deadly  distempers. 

1610.  castes  olde  =  old  contrivances;  contrivances  of  old, — 
long  in  use,  thus  proving  their  efficiency. 

161 1.  Jifyn  lokyng=\ny  look. 
1618.    Z'/zrt/^  which  fact. 

1639.   Hit=\i.     The   third    personal    pronoun    in    A.S.   was 
16 


242  NOTES    TO   THE  KNIQHTES   TALE. 

ke,  keo,  hit.,  pi.  ///;  the  gen.  his,  hire,  his.  In  the  course  of  time 
the  h  dropped,  and  an  anomalous  gen.  its  was  formed. 

Venus,  possessive  case. 

1630.  by  the  c«««e  =  because. 

schulde  =  vciwi\..  The  pret.  implies  an  engagement  already 
made. 

1632.  at  nights  as  soon  as  it  was  night. 

1640.  i&/-ow^j'«^=  embroidery.  From  braid,  hence  worked 
with  braid. 

1642.    Go/^-i^ci?c«  =  ornamented  with  gold. 

1646.  G/^^j'«^=  making  ready;  literally,  rapidly  moving. 
Morris  explains  as  clattering.  Tyrwhitt  reads  grinding,  rub' 
bing.  The  interpretation  given  above,  if  tenable,  comports 
better  with  the  rest  of  the  passage.  The  \ioxdi  gig  in  E.E.  was 
used  to  denote  any  rapid  motion,  or  a  motion  to  and  fro,  as  the 
vehicle  so  named  from  the  motion  communicated  to  the  rider. 

"That  for  the  swough  and  for  the  twigges 
This  house  was  also  full  of  gigges."     H.  of  F.  iii.  852. 
Cf.  Ger.  Geige,  a  fiddle. 

1647.  Tker  as  need  is^  about  what  was  necessary. 

1652.  5^ar'es  =  staffs,  bludgeons.  We  distinguish  between  the 
two  plurals,  —  sta^s  being  the  pi.  of  staff,  and  staves  denoting 
weapons. 

thikke  refers  to  communes. 

1654.  bloody  sotunes,  sounds  inciting  to  bloody  deeds. 

1655.  peples  =  groups  of  people. 

1656.  holdyng  here  questionti  =  holding  their  discussion. 

1659.  ^'"'  Tvith  the  blake  herd;  i.e.,  "  Ligurge  himself,  the 
grete  kyng  of  Trace,"  1.  1271,  1272. 

1660.  the  balled=  the  light  hairej;  i.e.,  Emetrius,  "the  king 
of  Ynde,"  1.  1307,  1308. 

the  thikke  herd  =  the  thick  haired;  i.e.,  Arcite;  cf.  "  myn 
heer  that  hangeth  longe  adoun,"  1.  1557-59- 

1661.  he  lokede  grym  ;  i.e.,  Palamon. 
1665.  of  his  5/ec/  =  out  of  his  sleep. 
axvaked,  Tyrwhitt  reads  "  is  waked." 
1675.  made  an  ^00^  cried  oyez,  hear  ye. 
1678.  dukes  =  duke's,  gen.  sing. 

1685.  tty>  J>eyne  =  upon  pain  or  penalty. 

1687.  sende,  subj.  used  for  imperative. 

1688.  -with  point  bytynge  ^\s\th  sharp  point,  as  in  battla. 


NOTES    TO    THE   KNIGHTES    TALE-  243 

i6yi.  But  one  course  with  a  deadly  weapon  wa«  allowed  on 
horseback.     See  1.  174S. 

1692.  "Let  him  fence  on  foot,  if  it  please  him,  to  defend 
himself." 

1693.  ai  mcsc/iief=^  uniovtunvite,  in  the  combat. 

1696.  /te  schal  =^hut  thither  shall  he  be  taken. 

1697.  if  so  falle  =  \{  it  may  so  happen. 
1700.  ley  on.     Properly  a  compound. 

1707.    65^  _^f«  =  begin  to  sound,  — a  compound. 

1715.  ooii  and  other  ^^owQ  and  another. 

1717.  by  />7wc  =  betimes,  in  due  season. 

1723.  west-ward  —  under  Marte  =  from  the  west,  luider  the 
temple  of  Mars.  See  1.  1049.  "And  clipyd  hym  tayhird."  R.  Coeur 
de  L.  724. 

1727.  Is  under  Vemts  est-zvard=  Under  the  temple  of  Venus 
from  the  east  has  entered. 

1733.  ««j'  =  either  one.     So  A.S.  aen/i>-^any  one. 

1735.   So  evenly  had  they  been  chosen,  as  one  would  suppose. 

1738.  "  That  there  might  be  no  deceit  in  the  number." 

1739.  cried  ivas.     The  next  line  is  the  subject. 

1747.  Observe  the  alliteration  in  the  lines  following, —  the 
spirit  of  the  old  Saxon  overmastering  the  culture  of  the  courtier. 

1748.  i/e:=one.  He  —  he=^o\\'i, — another.  See  below  used 
as  a  demonstrative. 

Herte-spon=^  n:iv<^\.  "Spoon"  in  Yorkshire  denotes  the 
navel. 

1749.  Up  sfringen.  Observe  the  emphatic  position  of  the 
prepositions;   so,  out  goon.,  out  brest.     These  are  all  compounds. 

foot=gen.  pi.  of  feet.  A.S.  fota.  The  common  idiom  of 
using  this  form  with  numerals  indicates  the  persistence  with 
which  the  common  speech  clings  to  the  old  forms. 

1751.  to-/iezve?i  and  to-schredc.  To  in  composition  has  an 
intensive  force. 

1754.   He — ^c  =  one  —  another:  this  one  —  that  one. 

1758.  "And  one  hurls  another  with  his  horse  adown." 

1762.  "Another  is  brought  (to  the  stake)  from  the  other 
side." 

1763.  doth  //e;w  =  causes  them. 

1767.  "  Each  has  unhorsed  the  other  of  them  two."  Other  in 
E.E.  is  generally  used  without  the  article. 

1779.  the  ;-t'5/t' =  his  rest.  So  in  Greek  the  article  is  used  for 
the  possessive. 


244  NOTES    TO   THE  KNIGHTES    TALE. 

17S0.  ga?i  hcnte  =  seized. 

1787.  for  al  /lis  strcngthe  =  in  spite  of  his  strength. 

1789.   So  =  in  sucli  a  manner,  so  hard. 

1799.  pariye  =  party;  i.e.,  to  the  suit  =  partial. 

1802.  A710071,  Sic,  =  anon  a  noise  is  begun  by  tlie  people. 

Of  the  people ;  gen.  of  source. 

1804.  5C;^o/(fe  =  would. 

1S09.  ascJiamed  =  put  to  shame. 

1810.  hold  thy  pees  =  keep  quiet ;  refrain  from  saying  an^ 
thing;  cf.  "Keep  the  peace "=  to  refrain  from  violent  action. 

1816.  herkneth  me:  "which  a  miracle"  is  the  ace.  of  direct 
object,  and  "  me  "  is  dative  of  indirect. 

181S.  Of — j</6>(??i!  =:  dofted ;  i.e.,  do-offed.  So  also  don  = 
do-on. 

1822.  agayn  him  =  towards  him. 

1823.  171  co7ttu7ie  =  generally. 

1825.  "  And  she  was  wholly  his  in  her  countenance,  as  she 
was  his  in  her  heart;  "  i.e.,  she  did  not  conceal  her  feelings,  but 
expressed  them  by  her  joyful  countenance.  Chcere  must  be 
construed  as  in  the  dative,  and  her  supplied.  Tyrwhitt  reads, 
"And  was  all  his  in  chere  as  his  in  herte,"  —  an  easier  but  not 
a  better  reading. 

1826.^';'  =  fire.  Tyrwhitt  readsywrj,  which  is  undoubtedly 
correct. 

1828.  For  zvhich  =  at  which  :  before  which. 

1830.  "  And  before  Arcite  was  able  to  recover  him." 

1833.  to-broste7i,  —  his  horse  fell  upon  him  and  the  projecting 
saddle-bow  crushed  his  breast. 

1840.  171  77icmory  a7id  07i  lyve  =  in  his  senses  and  alive. 

Chaucer  uses  on  lyve,  alive,  and  lyves. 

1845.   "Although  this  accident  had  happened." 

1847.  schal  is  here  used  peculiarly.  It  indicates  a  belief  that 
he  will  not  die,  because,  from  the  circumstances  —  having  fairly 
won  his  lady  —  he  ought  not  to  lose  the  reward. 

1851.  Al  -were  they  =  although  they  were. 
a7id  7iamcly  oon  =  and  one  especially. 

1852.  That  —  his  brest-boo7t  =  whose  breastbone. 

1853.  To  =  for;  cf.  Lat.  ad. 

1855.  save  =  sage,  —  once  a  famous  remedy,  as  its  Latin 
name  —  salz'ia  —  implies. 

1S57.  as  he  zvel  c««  =  as  he  well  knows  how. 


NOTES    TO    THE   KNIOIITES    TALE.  245 

i86i.  "  But  there  was  held  to  be  no  defeat  (as  in  battle)  but 
as  in  a  (friendly)  joust  or  tournament;  for,  indeed,  there  was  no 
defeat." 

1867.   O  fersone  alloiie  =  one  person  by  himself. 
"  But  for  he  may  nought  all  him  one 
In  sondry  places  do  justice." 

Gower,  Con.  Am.  iii.  178. 
184S.  ^rtr/<?<f  =  roughly  dragged.     The  origin    seems   to   be 
shown  in  Fr.  harer,  to  set  on  a  dog. 

1872.  cotvardye  =  cowardice.  Wedgwood  refers  to  Fr.  couard 
from  Lat.  cauda,  tail :  hence,  one  who  turns  tail.  It  may,  how- 
ever, be  from  cotver,  to  hide.  Ger.  kaucrn ;  cf.  "cowans  and 
evedroppers." 

"Thanne  cometh  ther  a  cougioun  with  a  grey  cote 
As  not  of  his  nolle,  as  he  the  nest  made, 
Another  proud  partriche,  and  precyth  to  the  nest, 
Knd  prezylichc  piri/hf  till  the  dame  passe. 

And  leveth  the  lurker  that  hem  er  ladde." 

Dep.  Ric.  ii.  16,  10. 

1873.  /ce/ cr/e  =  ordered  (the  heralds)  to  cry:  let  strictly  = 
permit;  here  used  by  euphemism. 

1875.  The  gree  =  the  prize  (to  be)  as  well  of  one  party  as  of 
the  other. 

1878.  f>illy  modifies  three. 

1879.  "And  honorably  accompanied  the  kings  fully  a  day's 
journey  out  of  his  town.      Worthily  =  for  the  sake  of  honor. 

1881.  the  righte  way  =  by  the  straight  road. 

1882.  have  good  day  =  ma.y  you  h^wQ  good  day.  Abbreviated 
into  "  good-day." 

1892.  For  thilke  vertti,  &c.,  by  aid  of  that  virtue.  "The 
expulsive  or  animal  virtue  (power)  cannot,  for  want  of  the  aid 
of  the  natural  power,  expel  or  void  the  venom;  "  that  is,  neither 
by  the  aid  of  medicines  nor  by  the  force  of  nature  can  he  free 
himself  of  the  poison. 

1897.  "  Neither  is  vomit  nor  laxative  of  any  avail  to  him." 

1902.  to  chirche ;  i.e.,  to  his  funeral. 

1903.  This  al  and  som  =  this  is  the  end  of  the  matter. 

1904.  For  which  ==  for  which  reason,  wherefore. 
1920.  Now  —  now  =■  at  one  moment  —  at  the  next. 

1928.  "  And  may  Jupiter  guide  my  soul  so  truly  to  speak." 


246  NOTES   TO   THE  KNIOETES    TALE. 

1933.  ar/=the  art  or  profession  of  knighthood. 

1934.  "  So  may  Jupiter  take  the  part  of  my  soul ;  "  i.e.,  favor 
me. 

1945.  "The  intellect  that  dwelt  in  his  sick  and  sore  heart 
failed  without  any  delay,  only  when  the  heart  felt  death;  "  that 
is,  his  affection  for  Emily  ceased  only  with  death. 

1952.  catn  nevere,  supply  thence,  as  indicated  by  ther  =^ 
thither. 

1954.  registye=^xQ.zo'cdi\  i.e.,  the  "  olde  stories." 

1955.  "Nor  does  it  please  me  to  tell  the  opinions  of  others, 
though  they  may  write  where  they  dwelle,"  —  alluding  to  Boc- 
caccio, who,  in  his  version  of  the  tale,  conveys  Arcite's  soul  to 
heaven. 

1956.  //c;«^them,  those  persons,  others. 

1957.  ///<;;-=  therefore,  may  Mars  take  charge  of  his  soul. 
"  O  that  Mars  would."  Morris.  Tyrwhitt  thinks  that  thcr  has  a 
peculiar  force  in  this  passage.  Ther  is  here  equivalent  to  for 
this,  being  the  dative.     So  also  Merch.  Tale,  31. 

"This  sentence  and  a  hundred  thinges  worse 
Writeth  this  man,  ther  God  his  bones  curse." 

Ther  is  here  plainly  equivalent  to  for  this ;  therefore,  in  the 
line  under  consideration,  ther  refers  to  what  immediately  pre- 
cedes, —  "  Arcite  is  cold." 

1962.  to  taryen  forth  the  day^  to  stop  for  the  rest  of  the  day. 
forth  after  a  verb  of  motion  indicates  direction  or  limit. 

1966.  For  the  more  part  =  generally.  Grief  must  either  find 
vent  in  lamentation  or  else  they  die. 

1977.  "  Why  wouldst  thou  die,  when  thou  hadst  gold  enough 
and  Emily  .'"  —  a  beautiful  touch  of  nature. 

1982.  tornen,  infinitive,  after  seen. 

1984.  likenesse,  similar  instances.  To  be  construed  as  a 
collective  noun,  as  though  from  the  French  like  rickesse. 

1992.  And  over  al  this  =  and  besides  this. 

1999.  he  took  conclusiouji  =  he  reached  the  conclusion. 

2(X)0.    That  ther  as  =  that  there  where. 

2003.  he  haddc  =  he  had  had,  had  suffered. 

2007.  hakke  and  hewe  ■=  cut  down  and  cut  up.  These  two 
words  are  nearly  synonymous,  in  accordance  with  the  tendency 
of  the  language  to  strengthen  an  expression  by  duplicating 
similar  words  ;  cf.  "  time  and  tide." 

2CXD9.  "wel  arrayed  =  well  arranged. 


NOTES    TO    THE  KNIQHTES    TALE.  247 

2010.  they,  redundant. 

2015.  the  same  sute\   i.e.,  of  the  cloth  of  gold. 

2019.  bare  the  visage,  absolute  construction  in  imitation  of 
tlie  A.S.  dative  absolute. 

2020.  pite  =  pity.  The  use  of  nouns  for  adjectives  in  such 
cases  must  be  explained  by  an  ellipsis  ;  e.g.,  it  occasioned  pity  to 
hear. 

202\.  people  — alle=  sW  the  people,  the  people  altogether- 
Cf.  "  In  many  things  we  oftend  all ;  "  i.e.,  -wq  all  offend. 

2023.    That  rorcth  of=^  that  resoundeth  with,  &c. 

2027.  "  And  Emily  surpassing  others  in  weeping." 

2029.  In  as  moche  =  in  order  that  the  service  might  be. 

2046.  The  street  was  spread  with  black,  and  the  buildings  on 
either  side  were  hung  with  the  same. 

2053.  With  fyr  in  hand.  It  was  the  custom  for  the  nearest 
friend  to  light  the  funeral  pile.     See  1.  20S3. 

2055.  "  Severe  labor  and  very  great  preparation  was  put 
forth  at  the  funeral  service  and  the  making  of  the  funeral 
pyre." 

2057.  r//«^  — /«5  =  whose  ;  refers  to  ^r  with  the  meaning 
funeral  pile. 

2066.  for  me  =  so  far  as  I  am  concerned. 

2069.  tvoneden  =  used  to  dwell. 

..."  the  wild  beast,  where  he  wons 

In  forest  wild."  Par.  L.  vii.  457. 

2076.  a  three  =  in  three  parts;  i.e.,  finely  split;  cf.  /;/  two. 

2080.  al  so  —  the  uncontracted  form  of  as,  —  "  the  incense 
with  as  strong  an  odor  as  myrrh." 

2087.  jcxvcls.  From  the  same  root  as  joy  (Lat.  gaudium), 
hence  denoting  what  occasion  or  indicate  joy.  The  putting  off 
of  jewels  was  a  sign  of  mourning. 

2089.  su7nme  =  some,  plural,  of  som,  one. 

2090.  were  =  wore.  A.S.  ivcrian  is  regular;  this  is  one  of 
the  few  instances  in  which  we  have,  because  of  analogy,  changed 
a  weak  into  a  strong  verb. 

2095.  Keeping  the  fire  on  the  left  hand. 

2100.  liche--ivake  =  \.\\&  watch  (wake)  held  over  the  remains 
of  the  dead.     This  custom  is  very  ancient. 

2102.  xvakc-plcycs  =  games  played  while  watching  the  re- 
mains of  the  dead,  — funeral  games.  The  custom  of  making 
this  an  occasion  of  merriment  is  not  entirely  obsolete. 


248  NOTES    TO   THE  KNIGETES    TALE. 

2104.  in  710  disjoint  =  with  no  disadvantage. 

2107.  "'But  I  will  come  from  this  point  {iken')  briefly  to  the 
conclusion." 

2109.  of  certcyn  yeres  =  by  lapse  and  length  of  time. 

21 13.  poynt ;  cf.  "speak  to  the  point." 

cas  =  a  circumstance.  Circumstances  had  brought  up  a  cer- 
tain point  for  discussion;  in  the  discussion  that  ensued,  the 
matter  of  alliance  with  other  nations — and  particularly  the  rela- 
tions of  Thebes,  which  state  Theseus  proposed  more  closely  to 
attach  to  Athens  by  intermarriage  —  was  brought  up  for  con- 
sideration. 

2iig.  Un-vist.  of  him  =  he  being  ignorant:  absolute  con- 
struction. 

2121.  in  hye  =  in  haste,  hastily. 

2126.  "He  fixed  his  eyes  where  it  was  his  pleasure  to  fix 
them,"  —  probably  on  his  sister. 

2131.  tkcffcct  =  the' thing  to  be  accomplished.  We  find  this 
word  used  in  two  senses  :  ist,  that  which  is  to  be  done  :  2d,  that 
which  has  been  done. 

2141.  "Although  they  may  nevertheless  easily  abridge  these 
days." 

2142.  "I  need  not  cite  authorities,  for  it  is  proven  by  experi- 
ence, except  that  it  pleases  me  to  declare  my  conclusion." 

2147.  it  be  a  fool=  he  be  a  fool.  //  is  neuter  to  agree  with 
fool. 

2155-  spices  =  species.  "The  spices  of  penaunce  ben  three." 
Persones  Tale. 

2157.  lye  =  destruction,  Fate.  A.S.  leg,  or  laeg:  Tyrwhitt 
reads  "withouten  any  lie," —  an  inferior  reading. 

2 1 58.  seji  at  eye  =  see  at  once. 

2164.  £^oon  =  walk.  Go  in  E.E.  means  to  walk,  as  to  ride 
usually  means  to  ride  on  horseback. 

"And  some  gone  and  some  ride. 
And  some  prick  here  horse  aside." 

Gower,  Con.  Am.  i.  no. 
2168.  /,5?5 /^/m^=  such  things ;  plural. 

2170.  nedes  =  of  necessity.      Morris    reads    ncdeth.      I   have 
adopted  Tyrwhitt's  reading.     The  sense  is  :  we  also  see  plainly 
that,  in  regard  to  man  and  woman,  that  of  necessity  he  must 
die.     With  7iedeth^  we  must  read  :  "  that  it  must  be  that." 
2173.  Som  —  sotn  =  one  —  another. 


NOTES    TO    THE  KNIGHTES    TALE.  249 

2174.  large  field  =  \x\  the  open  country,  where  one  would 
apparently  be  the  safest. 

2175-    Tker  helpeth  naught  =  Nothing  is  of  any  avail. 

2177.    What  =  what  power,  who. 

2181.  here  agayjis  =  against  this.     Here  is  dative. 

21S5.   it—  that  =  that  which  :   like  he  that  for  -who. 

2186.   namclychc  that  =  especially  that  which. 

2199    The  cotitrarye  ^the.  opposite  opinion. 

2207.  "  And  yet  they  are  not  able  to  amend  their  desires  that 
offend  both  his  spirit  and  themselves." 

2211.  of  al  his  grace  =  for  all  his  kindness.  An  imitation 
of  the  A.S.  construction  of  dat.  and  gen.  with  verbs  of  granting, 
refusing,  and  thanking.     See  March,  §  297,  d. 

2215.  ivher  =  in  whom,  in  what  person.  Wher  is  here  used 
with  an  evident  consciousness  of  its  pronominal  force.  "And 
see  now  to  whom  is  most  sori-ow  in  this  matter." 

2221.  Scan:  and  ev'r'  |  hath  doon  |  &c. 

2225.  '•  Let  I  ,  iicw  see  a  proof  of  your  womanly  pity."  Par- 
titive gen. 

2231.  "For  gentle  mercy  ought  to  surpass  mere  justice." 

2242.   Se7i(Ie  =  may  God  send  ;  subj. 

Hath  it  deere  abought^  hath  paid  dearly  for  it. 

2349.   "Thus  endeth  (the  story  of)  Palamon  and  Emelye." 


GLOSSARIAL    INDEX. 


GLOSSARIAL     INDEX. 


ABBREVIATIONS. 


A.S Aiii^lo-Saxon. 

cf.     compare. 

E.E Early  English. 

Fr French. 

Gael Gaelic. 

Ger German. 

Goth Gothic. 

Gr Greek. 

imp imperative. 

K Knightes  Tale. 

A. 

A,  one,  P.  24.  A.S.  an,  Ger.  ein; 
indefinite  article  an,  a. 

A-  (prefix),  in,  on,  P.  822;  a-morwe, 
a-dai/,  K.  1765.     A.S.  an,  on. 

Abbot,  father.  Hebrew  abba, 
fatlier,  —  a  title  given  in  the 
Syriac  churches  to  bishops. 

Abide,  Abiden  (pr.  abocl,  abood  ; 
p.p.  abiden,  ah(/den),  to  await,  to 
wait,  K.  69,  2124.    A.S.  abidan. 

Able,  capable.     Lat.  habilis. 

Abood,  delay  ( See  Abide),  K.  107. 

Aboughte  (pr.  of  abi/ej,  suffered 
for,  paid  for,  K.  1445.  Abont/hte 
trriveli/,  K.  1445 ;  deere  abow/ht, 
K.  2242,  paid  dearly  for.  Some- 
times corrupted  into  abide.  A.S. 
abicr/an. 

Aboute,  in  turn,  in  a  circle;  cf. 
"round  about,"  K.  32. 

Aboven,  above.  O.E.  aboon,  A.S. 
abnfan. 

Abregge,  to  abridge,  shorten,  K. 
2141.  Fr.  abr^ger,  Lat.  abbrevi- 
are. 

Accomplice,  to  accomplish,  K. 
2006. 

Accordant,  according  to,  P.  87. 


Lat Latin. 

O.E Old  English. 

O.Fr Old  French. 

O.N Old  Norse. 

O.S Old  Saxon. 

P Prologue. 

pr preterite. 

p.p past  participle. 

W Welsh. 


Accorde,  Acord,  agreement,  de 

cision,  P.  837. 
Accorde,  Acorde,  to  agree,  har- 
monize, please,  decide,  P.  244, 

830.     Lat.  ad-cor. 
Achate,   purchase",    P.    571.     Fr. 

acheter,     Lat.    acceptare,     Eng. 

cater. 
Achatour,  purchaser,  P.  568. 
Acquaintaunce,  Aqueyntaunce, 

one    kn(nvn.      Lat.    ad-cognitus, 

Fr.  accointance. 
Adamauntz,  adamant,  probably 

steel,   K.   1132.     Diamond  is  a 

corruption  of  this  word. 
A-day,  by  day,  K.  1765.    A.S.  an. 
Adown,   downwards,  adown,   P. 

393,  K.  245.   A.S.  of-dtaie,  u-dun. 
Adrad,  afraid,  P.  605.     A.S.  on- 

draedan.     See  A,  prefix. 
Afered,  Aferd,  afraid,  P.  628,  K. 

660.     A.S.  afaeran,  to  terrify. 
Affyle,  to  file,  sharpen,  P.  712. 

Fr.^/z7,  thread,  an  edge. 
After,  according  to,  P.  347,   K. 

1877;  for,   P. '525;  afterwards, 

K.  1201.  Now  usually  restricted 

to  time  and  space. 
Agast,  terrified,  aghast,  K.  1483. 

Goth,  (jeisan,  to  terrify. 


254 


OLOSSAEIAL  INDEX. 


Agaste,  p.p.  of  agaze,  to  be  terri- 
fied, K.  1566. 

Agayn,  Agayns,  Ageyn,  Agens, 
again,  P.  801,  K.  34 ;  against, 
P.  66,  K.  929 ;  towards,  facing, 
K.  651.  A.S.  ou-gean,  a-gen, 
gen  =  again.  Ger.  gegen.  Orig- 
inal force  tliat  of  opposition ; 
hence  also  addition  ;  cf.  r/c,  pre- 
fix, witli  cumulative  efieet, 
ge-hrothru. 

Ago,  Agon,  Agoo,  Agoon,  gone 
away,  gone  out,  agone,  K.  418, 
1478.  A.S.  ugan,  gone,  agangdii, 
to  go  from. 

Al,  wholly,  all,  P.  76,  150 ;  alto- 
gether, K.  226;  although,  K. 
1406  ;  al  be,  al  speke,  al  have,  &c., 
P.  297,  734;  K.  979  ;  very  (em- 
phatic), K.  188. 

Alauntz,  Alauns,  a  species  of  dog, 
K.  1290. 

Al  be,  although,  albeit,  P.  297. 
The  full  form  would  be  although 
il  may  be. 

Al  day,  every  day,  always,  K. 
310,  1018.     A.S.  ealle  daege. 

Alderman,  aaofficer  in  a  city  next 
in  rank  to  the  mayor,  and  often 
charged  with  judicial  functions, 
P.  372.  A.S.  ealdor-man  =  Lat. 
senator. 

Ale,  ale,  P.  341,  832.  A.S.  eale, 
calo,  from  a  root  signifying  to 
drink. 

Ale-stake,  a  stake  wreathed  with 
green  and  set  up  as  a  tavern- 
sign,  P.  667. 

Algate,  always,  P.  571.  A.S. 
geat  a  way;  thus  =  alwai/x. 

Alighte,  pr.  alighte,  p.p.  alight,  to 
alight,  P.  722,  K.  125.  A.S. 
alihtan. 

A.Ue,  all  (plural),  K.  54. 

Aller,  Alther,  Alder,  of  all  (gen. 
pi.)  :  with  oiire  =  of  us  ;  here  = 
of  them  ;  yoare  =  of  you,  P. 
586,  799,  823. 

Allone,  Alone,  only,  alone ;  0  jier- 
soiie  allone,  K  552,  1867.  From 
nUe-one.      Ger.  allrin. 

Al-redy,  very  quickly,  K.  183. 
A.S.  hrathe. 


Also,   Als,  as,   P.  730 ;    al-so,  al 

simply   emphasizing  so.     A.S. 

alswa,   contracted  also,  als,    as. 

Ger.  als.     The  Ormulum  gives 

all  all  sica.     See  As. 
Altherbest,  best  of  all,  P.    710. 

See  Alther. 
Although,  though    (al  emijhatic 

prefix),  P.  230. 
Alway,  Alwey,  in  all  ways,  at  all 

times.     A.S.  ealle  ivega. 
Amblere,  an  ambling  or  pacing 

horse,  P  469.     Fr.  ambler. 
Amonges,  amongst,  P.  759.    A.S. 

on  mang,  mengian,  to  mix  ;  Ger. 

mengen. 
Amorvsre,  on  the  morrow,  P.  822, 

K.  763.     a  =  in,  on;  cf.  abed. 
Amounts,  to  signify,  to  amount 

to,  K.  1504.     Fr.  monter. 
Amyable,    pleasing,   lovable,    P. 

138.     Lat.  aniabilis. 
Amyddes,  amidst,  in  the  middle  ; 

a  =  in. 
And,  and  if,  K.  356.     Sometimes 

written  an,  an  if. 
Angvvrische,     anguish,     extreme 

grief.     Fr.  angoisse,  Lat.  angere, 

to  strangle  ;  cf.  anger,  so  termed 

from  its  choking  effect ;  cf.  also 

Lat.  unguis,   ser2)ent,   literally, 

the  choker. 
Anight,  at  night,  K.  184. 
Anlas,  a  knife  or  dagger  usually 

worn    at   the    girdle,    P.    357. 

"  Low  Lat.  ane/«c/t<.'.-,  either  from 

Lat.  anellus   or   annlns,  a   ring, 

from  one  fastened   to  the   belt 

by  which  it  was  carried,  or  from 

Old  High  Ger.  laz,  Lat    lalus, 

side."     Webster. 
Anon,  Anoon,  in  one  (moment), 

anon,  P.  32,421 ;  «/i^in,o/«=one. 
Apayd,    satisfied,   i)leased.      Fr. 

IHigcr,  Lat.  jHicare,  Eng.  pag. 
Ape,  fool  (metaphorical),  P.  706. 
Apiked,  adorned,  trimmed,  P.  365, 

—  a  neatness  denoted  by  pick- 
ing off  particles. 
Apotecarie,  ajiothecary,   P.  425. 

Fr.  from  Gr. 
Appalled,  made  feeble,  K.  2195. 

iSo  pall  (as  to  pall  on  the  taste), 


GLOSS ABIAL   INDEX. 


255 


to  lose  energy,  —  not  connected 
with  pale. 

Apparailyng,  preparation.  Fr. 
appareiller,  Lat.  /(((/',  lience  to 
join  like  to  like,  to  tit. 

Appetite,  Appetyt,  desire,  ap- 
petite, K.  812,  822. 

Aray,  Arraye,  dress,  outfit, 
equipage,  appearance,  P.  78, 
330,  K.  G80.  Tlieroot  is  A..S 
raed,  Ger.  bereil,  O.E.  (jraythe, 
ready. 

Araye,  Arraye,  to  make  ready, 
to  set  out  with  ornaments,  K. 
1188,  2000.  A.S.  rjeraediau,  to 
make  ready. 

Archdeken,  gen.  Arclideknes, 
Archdeacon  or  dean,  an  eccle- 
siastic next  in  rank  below  a 
bishop,  P.  655. 

Arest,  a  support  tor  the  spear 
when  couched  for  tlie  attack, 
K,  1744.  Named  probably  from 
the  adverb  =  in-rest. 

Areste,  to  stop,  to  clieck,  P.  827. 
Fr.  areste,  Lat,  ud-restare. 

Aretted,  imputed,  K.  1871.  Fr. 
arrcler,  to  decree. 

Aright,  indeed  (on-right),  P.  189; 
cf.  a  similar  use  of  downright  : 
exceedingly,  very,  P.  267  ;  cf. 
riglit  Honorable,  right  Rev- 
erend. 

Arive,  landing,  attack,  P.  60. 

Arm,  the  arm,  P.  111.  A.S.  earm, 
arm ;  the  limb  fitted  or  joined 
on  ;  cf.  Lat.  armus  the  shoulder, 
ramus  a  branch. 

Arm-gret,  as  great  as  one's  arm, 
K.  1287. 

Armypctent,  powerful  in  arms, 
K.  1124.     Lat.  armipotens. 

Arreest,  restraint,  custody,  K. 
452 ;  cf.  arest. 

Arrerage,  arrears,  P.  602.  Fr. 
arre'raf/es. 

Arsmetrike,  arithmetic,  K.  1040. 

Art,  a  contrivance,  K.  1587.  So 
Lat.  ars. 

Arwe,  arrow,  P.  104.    A.S.  arewe. 

As,  according  as,  P.  8'JO ;  where, 
P.  407;  as  if,  P.  636,  K.  1184; 
namely,  K.  1245,  1499  ;  as  for, 


with  regard  to,  K.  975 ;  as  now, 

for  tlie  present,  K.  27.     All  the 

meanings   are  explained   by  a 

reference   to   the  uncontracted 

form,  <ili-su. 
Ascendent,   that   degree   of    tlie 

ecliptic  wiiich   is  risimj  at  the 

moment  of  one's  birth,"  and  by 

which  his  fortune  was  astrolog- 

ically  determined,  P.  417. 
Aachamed,     defeated,      put      to 

shame,   K.   1809.     A.S.  ascam- 

ian. 
Aseged,  besieged,  K.    23.      See 

Siege. 
Aslake,  to  appease,  K.  902.     A.S. 

aslacian,  to  slacken,  to  give  way ; 

cf.  .slack,  slack-Uiiie. 
As  nouthe.  As  now,  at  present, 

for  the  present,  P.  462,  K.  1406. 

A.S.  nu  ihu,  just  now. 
Asonder,    asunder.      A.S.    from 

sundrian,  to  sunder. 
Aspect,  tlie  position  of  the  planets 

at  one's  birth,  K.  229. 
Aspye,  to  discover,  K.  562.     Fr. 

espier,  Ger.  spu/ien,  Eng.  sjty. 
Assaut,  assault,  K.  131.    Fr.  from 

Lat.  adsaltum,  opposed  to  siege, 

tliat  is  a  silting. 
Assayed,  tried,  K.  952.     Fr.  es- 

sa/jer,  Lat.  exugere,  to  drive. 
Asschen,   aslies,    K.    444.      A.S. 

asce,  aslies,  dust ;  Ger.  asche. 
Assent,  consent,  agreement.   Lat. 

ussentire. 
Assise,  assize,  a  court  held  by  a 

number  of  judges      Originally 

an  assembly  of  Knights,  with  a 

justice,  for  the  transaction  of 

public  business,  which  is  prob- 

al)ly  the  meaning  in  P.  814. 
Assoillyng,    absolution,    P.    661. 

Lat.  absohdio. 
Asterte,  to  escape,  K.  737.   Allied 

to  A.S.  astyrian. 
Astoneyd,  astonished.     Fr.  e'ton- 

ner,  Ger.  erstaunen,  Eng.  stun. 
Astronomy,  astrology,  P.  414. 
At,  according  to,  P.  816  ;  after,  K. 

1292.     Lat.  ad. 
Athamaunte,  adamant,   K.  447. 

See  Adamauntz. 


256 


GLOSSARIAL  INDEX. 


A.  three,  in  three,  K.  2076 ;  a  =  in ; 
cf.  hi  two. 

A.t  oones,  at  once,  —  gen.  used 
adverbially,  K.  'J78. 

At-rede,  to  surpass  in  counsel, 
out-wit,  K.  15'J1.  A.S.  atratdan  ; 
cf.  l-ivit. 

A-t-renne,  outrun,  K.  ISiJl. 

A-tte,  at  the,  P.  20,  193 ;  aUe  beste 
=  at  the  best,  T.  29,  749 ;  atle 
laste  =  at  the  last,  at  last,  K. 
902      O.E.  at  than. 

A-tteyne,  to  attain,  K.  385.  Fv. 
atleiiidre,  Lat.  ((ttiiif/ert:. 

A-uetorite,  authority,  a  quotation 
from  some  standard  author,  K. 
2142. 

A-udifeour,  auditor,  a  person  ap- 
ponited  to  audit  or  examine  ac- 
counts, —  of  course  referring 
originally  to  tlie  verbal  state- 
ments of  men  who  usually  could 
not  write,  P.  594.  Lat.  (indi- 
tor. 

Auglite  (pr.  of  to  oivp),  ouglit,  K. 
22ol.     A.S    (ifjdii,  pr.  (ihfe. 

Aungel,  angel,  K.  197.  Gr.  uy- 
yf/lof,  a  messenger. 

Auter,  altar,  K.  1047.  Lat.  ullns, 
a  iiigh  place.     Fr.  unfel. 

Avantage,  opportunity,  advan- 
tage, K.  435.  Fr.  (want,  Lat. 
ah  (iiilii. 

Avaunee,  advance,  F   246. 

Avaunt,  a  boast,  to  make  auaunt, 
to  feel  confident,  to  boast,  P. 
227.     Lat-  ran  us. 

Avayle,  to  avail,  to  be  able,  K. 
1543,  2182.     Lat.  ad  valere. 

Aventure,  chance,  destiny,  ad- 
venture, P.  25,  795,  844  ;  an  ac- 
cident causing  death  (a  law 
term),K.  302. '^ 

Avow,  vow,  promise,  K.  1379. 
Fr.  avt'K,  Lat.  advocare. 

Avys,  Avis,  consideration,  advice, 
P.  786  ;  opinion,  K.  1010.  Fr. 
am,  Lat.  ad  videre. 

Awe,  fear,  dread,  P.  654.  A.S. 
ege,  Goth,  (if/nii,  or/an,  to  fear. 

Axe,  to  ask,  K.  488.     A.S.  nr.fian 

Axyng,  demand,  asking,  K.  968. 
A.iS.  acsany. 


Ay,  ever,  always,  P.  68,  572.  A.S. 

a  awa,  Or.  ati,  Lat.  aevum. 
Ayens,  towards,  against,  K.  651. 
Ayel,  a  grandfather,  K.  1619.  Fr- 

aieid,  Lat.  (avolus)  uvus. 

B. 

Baar,  Bar,  pr.  (of  here)  bore,  car- 
ried, P.  116,  158,  558,618. 

Bachelor,  a  yoimg  man,  one  not 
yet  attained  to  knighthood,  one 
not  yet  married,  P.  80.  From 
a  Celtic  root. 

Bad  (pr.  of  biddc),  ordered,  P. 
787.     A.S.  biddan,  pr.  baed. 

Baggepipe,  a  set  of  pipes  blown 
by  a  bellows  shaped  like  a  bag, 
P.  565. 

BaiUff,  bailiff,  P.  603.  Fr.  baillir, 
to  govern.     O.E.  baili. 

Bak,  back,  K.  192.  A.S.  baec;  cf. 
Lat.  lenjum,  as  though  Gr.  TEp(j>oc 
for  r!Tip(j)o^,  fnjm  arpicpu,  to  turn. 

Bake,  p.p.  baked,  baken.  This  verb 
was  originally  conjugated  like 
take.     A.S.  bacan,  boc,  bucen. 

Balled,  bald,  P.  198  (see  note), 
light  haired,  K.  1660. 

Bane,  destruction,  K.  239.  A.S. 
baiKi,  literally,  a  death-blow. 

Baner,  banner,  K.  108  (see  note). 
Goth,  bdiidwo,  a  sign. 

Banysehe,  to  put  under  ban,  to 
banish,  K.  867  ;  cf.  abandon. 

Bar  (pi.  bare),  bore,  conducted, 
P.  105,  673,  721.  A.S.  beran, 
baer,  boren. 

Barbour,  barber,  one  who  dresses 
the  beard.     Fr.  barbier. 

Bare,  bare,  uncovered,  K.  900 ; 
bare-headed,  P.  683.  A.S.  baer, 
Ger.  baar. 

Bareyn  (e),  barren,  deprived  of, 
K.  386,  1119.     O.Fr.  baraiijne. 

Bargayns,  traffic,  P.  282  (see 
note).  O.Fr.  bargidgner,  to 
traffic  ;  literally,  to  wrangle. 

Barge,  bark,  a  small  ship,  P.  410. 

Baronage,  an  assembly  of  barons> 
the  barons  as  a  body,  K.  2238. 
Fr.  baron,  originally,  man,  hus- 
band ;  cf.  A.S.  wer,  Lat.  vir. 


GL  OSSAliJAL    INJJh'X. 


257 


Barre,  a  bar,  bolt,  K.  HIT.  The 
sanio  root  appears  in  sjxtr  witli 
an  initial  s ;  cf.  O.N.  bun;  a 
tree. 

Barres.tbe  usual  ornaments  of  tlie 
girdle,  perforated  to  allow  the 
passage  of  the  buckle.  Tliey 
were  frequently  of  tlie  richest 
tiescription,  V.  o'Id. 

Batayle,  Bataile,  Battaille,  bat 
tie,  I'.  61,  K.  751.  From  the 
root  bat,  blow  ;  cf.  bmt,  Fr.  lutttre ; 
cf.  b(tt,  a  club,  batlcn/,  assault. 

Baudery,  lii'ense,  K.  10(J8. 

Bawdrik,  baldrick,  a  belt  worn 
over  one  shoulder  passing  under 
the  other  arm,  P.  ll(j.  A.S. 
belt. 

Bay,  bay  color,  K.  V2'M.  Lat. 
bddliis,  brown. 

Be,  (1)  to  be,  K.  1377;  (2)  been, 
P.  5U,  GO. 

Bede,  pi.  bedes,  a  bead,  pi.  a 
rosary,  P.  15U.     See  note. 

Been,  Ben,  to  be,  P.  1-10 ;  are, 
P.  178,  K.  317 ;  been,  P.  199. 
Chaucer  uses  three  forms  for 
the  plural,  been,  arcn,  are. 

Beer  (e),  a  bier,  K.  2013.  A.S. 
bernn,  cf.  barrow,  Ger.  bahre. 

Beest,  Best,  a  beast,  K.  451, 1118. 
Lat.  bestia.  Perhaps  from  beon, 
to  be  ;  cf.  animal  from  aniiiia. 

Beete,  to  kindle,  or  nuike  a  fire, 
K.  1395.  Literally,  to  make 
better.     A.S.  betan  from  bcl. 

Begger  (e),  a  beggar,  P.  252. 
Literally,  a  man  with  a  bat/,  the 
universal  characteristic  of  a 
beggar. 

Beggestere,  a  female  beggar,  P. 
242. 

BeUe,  a  bell,  P.  171.  A.S.  from 
bellan,  to  make  a  loud  noise. 

Belt,  a  belt.    A.S.  belt,  Lat.  balteus. 

Ben,  see  Been. 

Benedicite,  bless  him,  K.  927, 
Lat. 

Benigne,  kind,  P.  483.  Lat.  be- 
nignus. 

Bent,  a  slope  (a  concave),  a  plain 
or  level  place  at  the  foot  of  a 
hill,  K.  1123.     A.S.  bmdan. 


Berd  (e),  tiie  beard,  P.  270,  K. 
1557.     Ger.  bart,  Lat.  barba. 

Bere,  a  bear,  K.  782.  A.S  bera, 
literally,  "  the  great  beast ; " 
O.N.  biorn. 

Bere,  to  pierce,  to  bore,  subj.  bere, 
may  pierce,  K.  1398.  A.S.  60- 
rian. 

Bersten,  to  burst,  to  break  by 
bending,  K.  1122.     A.S.  beistan. 

Berstles,  bristles,  K.  556.  A.S. 
bi/rst,  Ger.  borste. 

Berye,  a  berry,  P.  207.  A.S. 
beria.  From  a  root  =  to  eat. 
The  literal  signification  is  there- 
fore food. 

Beseken,  to  beseech,  K.  60.  A.S. 
secan ;  be  intensive  prefix. 

Best.     See  Beest. 

Besy,  busy,  P.  321.     A.S.  bisirj. 

Bet,  contracted  form  of  better,  P. 
242.     A.S.  bet. 

Bete,  (p.p.  bete),  to  beat. 

Bettre,  Ijctter,  P.  524.  A.S.  betra, 
Goth,  bats ;  cf.  boot,  bote,  advan- 
tage "what  boots  if?"'  "to 
boot." 

Betwixe,  betwixt,  P.  277.  A.S. 
betivi/x.  From  root  tiio ;  cf.  be- 
tween. 

Bever  hat,  a  hat  made  of  beaver 
fur,  P.  272. 

Bewreye,  to  betray,  disclose,  K. 
1371.  Literally,  to  accuse, 
hence  to  point  out.  A.S.  be- 
ivregan.  "  Thy  speech  bewray- 
etli  thee,"  Matt.  xxvi.  73. 

Beyying,  buying,  K.  569.  O.E. 
be(/f/e.     A.S.  bijcgan. 

Bible,  a  book  ;  by  way  of  em- 
inence applied  to  the  Sacred 
Scriptures,  P.  438. 

Bi-bled,  be-bled,  covered  with 
blood,  K.  1144.  Be  intensive 
prefix. 

Bifalle  (p.p.  bifalle,  bi fallen),  to 
happen,  befall,  P.  795,  K.  947. 
A.S.  befeallan. 

Biforn,  before,  P.  572.  A.S.  be- 
foran. 

Bigan  (v.  au.x.),  did,  bigan  areste, 
arrested,  P.  827. 

Bihold    (pr.     biheld,    p.p.    biholde, 


17 


258 


OLOSSARIAL  INDEX. 


beholden),    to   behold,    K.  1435. 

Literally,  to  bold  one's  attention 

to. 
Biloved,  beloved,  p.  215. 
Bisette  (pr.  bitsette,   p.p.  bisd),  to 

employ,  P.  279  ;  to  arrange,  K. 

2154. 
Biside.near,  beside  (gov.  dative), 

P.  402,  K.  16. 
Bisy,  busy,  active,  fierce,  K.  1462. 

A.S.  bisig. 
Bite,  to  act  as  a  caustic,  to  bite, 

P.  631. 
Bittre,  bitter,  scalding,   K.   422, 

1367.     A.S.  bitter  from  hitaii,  to 

bite  ;  hence  any  tlung  pungent. 
Blak  (def.  and   pi.  bJake),  black, 

P.  557,   K.   41.      See  note,  P. 

627. 
Blake,  pale,   P.  627.     See   note. 

A.S.  blac,  pale. 
Blame,  to  blame,  blamable,  P.  375. 

O.Fr.  blaamer,  Gr.  (ilaaijujfiiu. 
Blankmanger,    a    compound    of 

capon   minced   with    other   in- 
gredients, P.  387. 
Bleynte,  blenched,  started  back, 

K.  220;  ct'.bUnk. 
Blis,  Blisse,  bliss,  K.  372.     A.S. 

biis,  from  blil/ie,  glad. 
Blisful,  full  of  bliss,  blessed,  P. 

17,  770. 
BUthe,  glad,  P.  846.     See  note. 
BUve,  Blyve,  quickly,   K.   1839. 

O.E.    bi-life  ;    cf.    liceli/,    (juick. 

See  note,'  P.  846. 
Blood,   lineage,   family,  K.   472. 

A.S.  blod ;  cf.  Ger.  liluhen,  bliithe. 
Bocher,  a  butcher,  K.  1167.     Fr. 

boucher,  from  bone,  a  goat ;  hence, 

literally,  a  goat-killer. 
Boeler,  Bolder,  a  buckler,  a  shield 

with  a  boss,  P.  112.     Fr.  boucle, 

Eng.  buckle. 
Bodye,  abody,  K.  139.    See  note. 
Bok,  pi.  bokes,  a  book. 
Bokelyng,  buckling,  K.  1645. 
Boket,   a  bucket,  ^K.   675.      Pr. 

hiquet,  a  pail. 
Bold,  ready,  prompt,  P.  755.  A.S. 

bald,  bold  ;  cf .  Ger.  bald. 
Bole,  a  bull,  K.  1281.    A.S.  bellan, 

to  bellow. 


Bond,  a  bond,  tiiat  which  binds ; 
in  law  a  sealed  written  agree 
ment,  K.  746.     A.S.  banda. 

Bond,  pr.  of  binde,  bound,  K.  2133. 

Bone,  Boon,  a  bone,  K.  144,  319. 
A.S.  ban.  The  word  originally 
denotes  support ;  cf .  Ger.  bem. 

Book,  a  book,  P.  185.  A.S.  boc, 
Goth,  boka,  letter,  writing,  usu- 
aUy  derived  from  A.S.  boce, 
beech,  as  beechen  boards  were 
used  instead  of  parchment ;  cf. 
Lat.  liber. 

Boon  (e),  a  prayer,  boon,  K.  1411. 
A.S.  ben. 

Boor  (e),  a  boar,  K.  800.   A.S.  bar. 

Boot  (e),  remedy,  P.  424.  A.S. 
bot  ;  cf.  beete,  to  mend. 

Boot  (e),  a  boot,  P.  203.  Fr.  botte; 
literally,  a  bag  of  leather.  See 
note ;  cf.  bottle. 

Boowes,  boughs,  K.  2059.  A.S. 
bnijun,  to  bend,  bow. 

Boras,  borax,  perhaps  saltpetre, 
P.  630. 

Bord,  table,  P.  52.  To  begin  the 
bord  =  to  sit  at  the  head  of  the 
table;  see  note.  A.S. bord;  cf. 
border. 

Bore,  p.p.  (for  boren)  born,  K.  684. 

Born,  p.p.  (for  boren),  carried, 
borne,  K.  120 ;  conducted  him- 
self, P.  87. 

Borwe,  pledge ;  to  borive,  in  pledge, 
K.  764.  A.S.  borh  ;  cf.  borrow. 
A.S.  borqian,  to  lend  u^jon  secu- 
rity.     Ger.  borqrn. 

Botha,  both,  K.  858.  A.S.  bativa : 
ba  =  botli,  twa  =  two. 

Bouk,  body,  —  the  same  as  bulk, 
K.  1888  ;  cf.  Indge,  bilge. 

Bracer,  armor  for  the  arms  (bras), 
P.  Ill,  —  in  this  case  to  protect 
from  the  recoil  of  the  bow- 
string ;  cf.  bracelet. 

Brak,  pr.  of  breke,  broke,  K.  610. 
A.S.  brecan,  pr.  braec. 

Braun,  Brawn,  muscle,  brawn, 
P.  546 ;  cf.  brairni/. 

Braunehe,  a  branch,  K.  209.  Fr. 
branrhe.  The  root  denotes  a 
support ;  cf.  brace ;  hence  an 
arm,  bras ;  also  figuratively,  tlie 


OLOSSARIAL   INDEX. 


'69 


anil  of  a  tree,  —  a  limb  as  it  is 
eoll()(iiiially  called. 

Breed,  Bred,  bread,  P.  147.  Ger. 
Irrot. 

Breede,  Brede,  breadth,  K.  1112. 
From  .\.S.   Iinid,  broad. 

Breeme,  furioii.sly,  Iv.  841.  A. 8. 
hreine,  from  brcniinan,  to  ratie. 
Sanskrit  bhram,  to  wliiri  vio- 
lently. See  note ;  cf.  Lat; 
jiremvre. 

Breeth,  breath,  P.  5.  A.S.  Jmirtli, 
originally  probably  denoting 
atcam. 

Breke  (pr.  bntk,  brok,  p.p.  bvok, 
{broken),  to  break,  P.  551. 

Brem,  a  -bream,  a  fresh- water 
fish,  P.  850. 

Bremstoon,  brimstone,  suli)hur  ; 
literally,  the  bnniin<j  atone,  V.  62'J. 
A.S.  bnjne. 

Brend,  burnished,  K.  1304.  A.S. 
bi/ni(in,  to  burn  :  either  from  its 
shining,  or  because  newly  forged 
metal  is  bright ;  so  brand  de- 
notes a  sword,  because  forged ; 
cf.  brand-new. 

Brende,  pr.  of  breiine,  burned,  K. 
1567. 

Brenne  (pr. brend,  brent ;  p.p.  brent), 
to  burn,  K.  1473.  A.S.  baernan, 
pr.  haernde,  p.p.  bin  rued. 

Brennyngly,  ardently,  burn- 
ingly,  K.  706. 

Breres,  briars,  K.  674.  A.S.  braer. 

Brest,  breast,  P.  115.  A.S.  breast 
(berstan),  what  swells  or  burets 
beyond  the  surface. 

Breste  (pr.  brast ;  p.p.  bursten, 
borsten),  to  burst,  K.  1752. 

Bretful,  brimful,  P.  687,  K.  130G. 

Bretherhede,  brotherhood,  broth- 
ers in  a  monastic  order,  P.  511. 

Bridel,  bridle,  P.  169.  Wedg- 
wood suggesta  that  the  word  is 
from  bit,  with  r  inserted  ;  hence 
that  part  of  the  harness  holding 
the  bit. 

Bright,  bright,  P.  104.  AS. 
briht.  Formerly  also  applied  to 
sounds. 

Proch,  a  brooch,  P.  160.  Fr. brocke. 
This  word  means  :  (1)  a  pin;  (2) 


a  buckle  or  clasp;  (8)  an  orna- 
ment fastened  with  a  pin  or 
buckle. 

Brode,  broad,  K.  2166. 

Broke,  p.p.  broken. 

Brond,  brand,  K.  1480.  A.S.  baer- 
nan. 

Brood  (e),  Brode,  broad,  P.  155, 
471,  54'J. 

Broode,  plainly,  P.  739.  Fid 
hroode,  very  ])lainly. 

Brother,  brother's  (gen.),  K  2226. 
In  A.S.  this  word  took  no  in- 
lleetion  in  the  i^cn. 

Brought,  pr.  oi' brimjc,  conibicted, 
acconi])anied,  P.  566. 

Broun,  brown,  P.  109.  A.S.  brun. 
From  hrcnnan,  to  burn. 

Browded,  braided,  K.  191.  A.S. 
bredan,  to  weave.  See  note  K. 
1640. 

Browrdyng,  embroidery,  K.  1640. 

Browes,  eyebrows,  1^.  627,  K. 
270.     A.S.  braew. 

Bulde,  builded,  K.  690.  A.S, 
bi//i/<in. 

Burdoun,  bass  (in  music),  P.  673. 
See  note. 

Biirgeys,  a  citizen,  a  freeman  in 
a  city,  P.  369.  A.S.  bun/,  Eng. 
bvroHi/h. 

Burned,  burnished,  polished,  K. 
1125.     Fr.  brnnir,  to  polish. 

Busche,  Bussh,  a  thicket,  K.  659, 
1155  ;  ef.  boak,  boscaf/e,  Bushman. 
Fr.  bois,  Ger.  Bnsch.  The  word 
now  denotes  a  shrub  with  thick 
brandies. 

Busily,  attentively,  P.  301. 

Busynesse,  Bysynesse,  occupa- 
tion, employment,  care,  P.  520, 
K.  149;  anxiety,  K.  1070.  A.S. 
bijsi/lan,  to  employ. 

.But,  besides,  further,  P.  142  and 
V.  154 ;  except,  P.  521,  K.  262. 
This  use  is  common  in  Chaucer 
and  in  Wiclif,  and  is  the  preva- 
lent meaning  in  A.S.  But, 
O.  Sax.  bi-utan  (by-out),  is 
formed  exactly  like  wiih-nut, 
and  is  parallel  to  except  (O.E. 
"i' ike),  by  which  its  meanings 
may   be   explained.      It   grad- 


26o 


GLOSSAIUAL   INDEX. 


ually  loses  its  adversative  force, 
anil  becomes  a  conjunction, 
like  besides,  excluding'  ail  except 
the  point  under  consideration, 
from  which  fact  it  gains  a  neg- 
ative force. 

But  if,  unless,  if  not,  P.  351,  582. 

By,  according  to,  P.  600.  A.S. 
bi,  near. 

By-and-by,  close  to  each  other, 
one  after  the  other,  K.  153  ;  im- 
mediately. "  By  and  by  he  is 
'otlended,'"  Matt.  xiii.  21. 

Bycause,  because,  P.  174.  See 
note. 

Byde,  remain,  abide,  wait,  K.  718. 
A.S.  bidan. 

ByfaUe,  BifaUe  (pr.  hifel,  biffel, 
bi/jjl,  impers.),  to  befall  or 
happen,  P.  I'J,  K.  151. 

Byforn,  byfore,  before,  P.  100, 
377. 

Bygynne  Cpr.  b/jr/mi,  bii/an,  p.p. 
bi/(/oniie),  to  begin,  P.  42, 52,  758, 
K.  690.     A.S.  be<iiiman. 

Bygge,  big,  large,  K.  506.  Ice- 
landic bolga,  a  swelling ;  cf. 
bulge,  bilge,  the  bell  if  of  a  ship. 

Byho'lde,  to  behold,  K.  505.  A.S. 
behcalden,  literally  to  hold  one 
to  ;  hence  to  hold  or  fix  the 
attention,  to  see :  "  I  am  be- 
holden to  you,"  "behold  and 
see." 

Byhote,  promise,  K.  996.  A.S. 
brhatan. 

Byhynde,  behind,  K.  192. 

Byjaped,  deceived,  fooled,  K.  727. 
"  UE.  /ape,  joke, lie;  'Ev.japper, 
to  yelp.  The  root  jap  is  con- 
nected with  (]ab,  jab,  as  in  gab- 
ble, jabber,"  Morris. 

Byknowe,  to  acknowie  Ige,  K. 
698.     A.S.  be-cnawan. 

By-loved,  beloved,  K.  571. 

Byndyng,  control,  K.  440.  A.S. 
bindan,  whence,  bind,  band,  bun- 
dle ;  cf  the  "  binding  force  of 
an  obligation  " 

Bynne,  bin,  K.  593.  A.S.  binne, 
a  bin,  manger,  —  that  into  which 
something  is  put ;  technically, 
an    apartment  in   a   granary 


in  composition  any  receptacle, 
e.g.,  a  coal  bin  ;  cf.  binnan,  with- 
in ;  inn,  a  tavern. 

Byquethe,  to  bequeath,  K.  1910. 
A.S.  qu(  titan,  to  say  ;  cf.  fiuolh. 

Byraft,  p.p.  of  bijieave,  bereft,  K. 
503.  A.S.  bereajian,  to  deprive 
of;  cf.  reave. 

Byside,  beside,  near,  by  the  side 
of,  K.  109.  Of  by  side,  from 
near,  P.  445. 

Bysmotered,  smutteil,  stained,  P. 
76.  A.S.  besmitan,  to  defile  ;  cf 
smut,  smud(/e. 

Byt,  3d  sing.  pres.  of  bidde,  bids, 
P.  187,  —  an  abbreviation  of 
biddeth  ;  cf  rijt  =  rideth. 

Bytwixe,  Bytwoxen,  between, 
K.  22.  From  tlie  radical  two, 
twain,  hence  the  idea  of  sepa- 
ration ;  cf.  twynne,  P.  835. 

c. 

Caas,  Cas,  a  state  of  things,  what 
happens  or  falls,  an  accident, 
chance,  P.  585,  844 ;  circum- 
stances, K.  2113.  Lat.  casus, 
from  cadcre,  to  fall ;  a  law  term 
=  cases,  P.  323,  Lat.  causa. 

Caas,  a  case,  quiver,  K  1222.  Fr. 
caisse,  Lat.  capsa  ;  cf.  caisson. 

Cacche  (pr.  caurjhte),  to  catch, 
select,  P.  498.  ' 

Calf  (of  leg),  the  fleshy  part  of 
the  leg,  P.  592.  Coi/op  is  an- 
other form  of  the  word. 

Cam,  came,  P.  547. 

Can,  (1)  to  know,  P.  210,  K.  922; 
(2)  to  acknowledge,  as  in  the 
phrase  "'  can  thank,"  K.  950. 
Ger.  danl-  wissen.  A.S.  cunnan, 
to  know  ;  whence  cunniyiq,  hen. 

Cantel,  a  corner,  K.  2150.  '  O.Fr. 
chantel,  Ger.  kante. 

Cape,  a  headland,  cape,  P.  408. 
1>.  cap,  Lat.  caput. 

Cappe,  a  cap,  hood,  a  priest's 
skull-cap,  P.  683. 

Care,  sorrow,  K.  631, 1214.  A.S. 
cam. 

Carf,  pr.  of  kerve,  carved,  P.  100. 
A.S.  cturjiin,  pr.  cearf. 


OLOSSAlilAL   INDEX. 


261 


Careful,  full  of  care  or  sorrow, 
anxious,  K.  707. 

Carie,  to  carry,  P.  130.  Fr.  airier  ; 
cf.  car,  cart,  chair,  chariot. 

Carl,  a  cliurl,  a  man,  particularly 
of  the  lower  orders  of  society, 
P.  545.     A.S.  ceorl,  a  man. 

Caroigne,  a  corpse,  K.  1155.  Lat. 
caro,  flesh. 

Carol,  a  song  accompanied  with 
dancinij,  K.  1073.  Fr.  carole. 
So  lialhid,  from  hallire,  to  dance. 

Carpe,  to  talk,  P.  474.  Allied 
to  chirp. 

Carpenter,  a  worker  in  wood,  a 
carpenter,  P.  361.     See  note. 

Carte,  a  chariot,  car,  K.  1183; 
cart,  K.  1164.  Fr.  char,  dim. 
charette.  From  same  root  with 
earn/. 

Cartere,  carter,  K.  1164. 

Cas.     See  Caas. 

Caste,  device,  K.  1610.  From 
ca.-^te,  to  contrive. 

Caste,  to  jud^e,  plan,  calculate, 
K.  1314.  A.S.  costian,  — perhaps 
alludiniijto  the  primitive  method 
of  calculation  by  pebbles. 

Catel,  property,  chattels,  P.  373, 
540,  —  the  same  word  witli  cat- 
tle. Lat.  capitale  ;  cf.  Lat.  jiccii- 
nia,  from  pecits.  See  note,  P.  373. 

Caughte,  took,  P.  498.  Sec 
Cacche. 

Cause,  case,  P.  423.  This  use  of 
cause  is  now  restricted  to  legal 
language.     Lat.  cwmso. 

Caytif,  captive,  wretch,  wretched, 
K.  66,694.  Fr.  chciif,  Lat.  cap- 
tivus.  As  an  adjective  it  de- 
notes that  condition  of  body  or 
of  mind  induced  by  captivity. 

Cercles,  circles,  of  his  eyen  =  eye- 
balls, K.  1273.  A.S.  eagaiihrin- 
;ias,  eye-rings. 

Cerial,  a  species  of  oak,  c.eniis,  K. 
1432. 

Certes,  certainly,  forsooth,  K 
17.     Fr.  certes,  Lat.  cert  us. 

Certeyn,  fixed,  determined,  P. 
815.      Fr.  certain. 

Certeynly,  Certeyn  (adv.),  cer- 
tainly, indeed,  P.  204,  375,  451. 


Ceruce,  wliite  lead, — used  as  a 
cosmetic,  P.  630. 

Chamberleyn,  a  chamberlain, 
one  haying  charge  of  the  apart- 
ments in  the  royal  residence,  K. 
560;  cf.  Ger.  hdmmerling. 

Chambre,  a  room,  P.  28.  Lat. 
camera,  Ger.  kammer. 

Champartye,  partnership  in 
power  :  literally,  partnership  in 
land,  K.  1091.     Fr.  cham/i-parti. 

Champioun,  clianijnon,  P.  239. 
A.i:^.  raiiijiia)!,  to  hght;  cf.  Lat. 
campus.     A.S.  camp. 

Chapel,  a  shrine,  chapel,  P.  171. 
See  note,  Lat.  capella. 

Chapellyn,  a  chaplain,  a  clergy- 
man in  charge  of  a  chapel  or 
shrine,  P.  164.     See  note. 

Chapman,  a  merchant,  P.  397. 
A.S.  ceapman,  Ger.  kaufman ; 
cf.  cheap,  chajfer  (O.K.  chap- 
fare),  and  the  proper  name 
Cha/ima?}. 

Char,  car,  chariot.  See  note,  K. 
1183. 

Charge,  care,  any  tiling  wider- 
taken,  P.  733,  see  note ;  K. 
426,  harm,  K.  1429.  Literally  : 
(1)  a  burden;  hence,  (2)  busi- 
ness of  importance,  weighty 
matters  ;  (3)  whatever  op- 
presses the  mind ;  (4),  wliat 
burdens  the  reputation ;  cf. 
carijo,  caricature. 

Charitable,  kind,  P.  143,  —  not 
restricted  to  alms-giving. 

Charite,  charity,  love,  good-will, 
an  act  of  kindness,  P.  532,  K. 
575.    Fr.  charite,  Lat.  caritan. 

Charme,  charm,  K.  1854.  Lat. 
carmen,  a  song,  a  magic  incnn- 
tation  in  verse. 

Chaunce,  event,  chance,  K.  894. 
O.Vr.  che'ance,  from  chenir,  Lat. 
cadere,  to  fall,  alluding  to  the 
tlirow  of  dice. 

Chaunterie,  an  endowment  for 
paying  a  priest  to  sing  masses 
for  the  soul  of  the  founder,  P 
510. 

Cheef,  cliief,  K.  199.  Fr.  chef, 
Lat.  caput. 


262 


GL08SARIAL   INDEX. 


Cheeke,  cheek,  V.  G33.  A.S. 
ceaca,  a  jaw  from  ceowan,  to 
chew;  cf.  <:h(iw,jaw. 

Cheer  (e),  Chere,  countenance, 
air,  manner,  appearance,  en- 
tertainment, P.  189,  728,  857, 
K.  1301,  1825.  Fr.  chere,  the 
face:  (1)  tlie  countenance  ;  (2) 
states  of  mind  or  body,  —  par- 
ticularly pleasant  states,  —  as 
indicated  by  the  face  ;  (8)  that 
which  causes  cheer,  as  good 
cheer ;  (4)  outward  demon- 
strations of  such  feelings,  as 
"the  cheers  of  the  audience." 

Chepe,  Cheapside  in  London,  — 
the  marlcet,  —  P.  754.  A.S.  cea- 
pan,  to  buy. 

Cherl,  a  churl,  K.  1601.  See  Carl, 

Chese,  imperative,  c/ies,  cheseth, 
to  choose,  K.  737.     A.S.  ceusdn. 

Chesteyn,  a  chestnut-tree,  K. 
2001.     hat.  castanea. 

Cheventein,  chieftain,  captain, 
K.  1GU7.  O. Fr.  chevetain;  N.Fr. 
cttjiilaine,  from  chef,  head  ;  Lat. 
caput. 

Chevysaunce,  a  loan,  an  agree- 
ment or  bond  given  to  secure  a. 
loan  of  money,  P.  282  Fr. 
achever,  to  bring  to  an  end,  to 
accomplisli. 

Cheyne,  a  chain,  K.  2130.  Fr. 
cheijne,  Lat.  ca-teiui ;  cf.  tciwic, 
to  hold. 

Children,  pi.  of  child,  P.  {\2%. 
A.S.  c'dd,  pi.  cildrn,  from  (•ciiiniii, 
to  beget,  — an  instance  of  mod- 
ern adoption  of  a  plural  in  ii ; 
cf.  kin,  kind,  kinij. 

Chirkyng,  sln-ieking,  K.  114G. 
A.S.  cearcian,  to  croak ;  cf.  chirp. 
In  E.E.  denotes  the  noise  made 
by  birds. 

Chivachie,  military  service,  P. 
85.     Fr.  clu'vid,  a  horse. 

Chivalrie,  Chyvalrie,  the  pro- 
fession of  a  knight,  Icniglithood, 
P.  45,  knightly  exploits,  K.  7. 
Fr.  chevalier,  a  liorsenian. 

Christendom,  Christian  countries, 
P.  4'.).  l>oin  {dciiKtn,  lo  deem), 
originall_y  denoted  Ijclief,  so  that 


Cliristendom  meant  the  body  of 
Christian  faith  ;  also  the  coun- 
tries within  which  such  faith 
was  held:  from  the  second 
meaning  of  denuin,  to  judge, 
the  termination  dvni  indicates 
jurisdiction,  as  kimj-dom. 

Churche,  Chirche,  a  building 
devoted  to  divine  service,  P. 
708,  K.  1902.  I  see  no  reason 
to  doubt  tlie  usual  derivation 
from  Gr.  KvpLaKT/. 

Chyken,  gen.  ch/jkncs,  a  chicken, 
P.  380.     A.S.  ciceii,  pi.  cicenu. 

Circumstaunces,  things  apper- 
taining to,  K.  1074  ;  attendant 
rites,  K.  1405;  matters  which 
indicate  one's  station  in  life, 
K.  1930;  cf.  "in  poor  circum- 
stances." Lat.  circHni-staiilid ; 
cf.  Ger.  unistand. 

Cite  (e),  a  city,  K.  81.  Fr.  c//e, 
Lat.  civitas. 

Citole,  a  dulcimer,  K.  1101. 

Clad  (p.p.  of  clothe),  clothed,  clad, 
P.  103.  Th  in  the  present  is 
for  dh.  A.S.  cladhictii,  Ger. 
k  lei  den. 

elapsed,  clasped,  P.  273.  Ger. 
klii/ipsen  ;  cf.  clip,  to  embrace. 

Clarioun,  clarion,  K.  1G53.  Fr. 
rliiir,  clear. 

Clarre,  wine  mixed  with  honey 
and  spices  and  strained  until  it 
is  clear,  wlicnce  the  name,  K. 
613. 

Clatere  (n),  to  clatter,  rattle,  K. 
liJOl.     An  imitative  word. 

Clause  —  in  a  rlaiise  =  in  conclu- 
sion, K.  905.  Lat.  clan.su.i, 
claiiderr,  to  shut  ;   cf.  close. 

Clear  (e),  c'ear,  clearly,  P.  170. 
Fr.  elair,  Ger.  klar,  Lat.  clarits. 

Clemence,  pity,  K.  70.  Lat.  c/e- 
nieiitld. 

Clene,  clean,  cleanly,  P.  138,  367. 
A.S.  clarne;  cf.  Ger.  klein,  small ; 
hence,  neat. 

Clennesse,  cleanness,  purity,  P. 
50(3. 

Clense,  to  cleanse,  P.  681.  A.S 
clacn^ian. 

Clepen   (p.p.  cleped),   to   call,    P 


OLOSSARIAL   INDEX. 


263 


121,  643,  K.930.  A.S.  rli/iuav. 
Still  used  as  iiu  archaic  ]):irtici- 
ple,  yclejit ;  cf.  cJdi',  i-Uipixr. 

Clerk,  an  eilucated  person,  a 
scholar,  a  clergyman,  1'.  285, 
480.     See  note. 

Cloke,  a  cloak,  P.  157.  Gael,  doc, 
a  mantle. 

Clothred,  clotted,  K.  1887.  From 
the  root  clot  or  clod,  a  thick 
mass;  cloud  is  from  the  same 
root,  denoting  vapor  drawn  into 
masses.     A.S.  clot,  Ger.  klons. 

Cloysterer,  one  belonging  to  a 
cloister,  and  lience  not  accus- 
tomed to  appearing  in  public,  P. 
259. 

Cloystre,  a  cloister,  P.  185.  Lat. 
cliiiidcre,  to  shut. 

Cofre,  a  cotter,  chest,  receptacle, 
P.  298.  A.S.  CO/;  a  cave;  Fr. 
coffre ;  cf.  coffin. 

Cok,  a  cock,  a  leader,  P.  823. 
A.S.  coc,  whence  chick. 

Col,  coal,  K.  1834.  A.S.  col,  Ger. 
kfjide ;  cf.  Lat.  calere,  to  be  hot. 

Col-blak,  as  black  as  a  coal,  coal- 
black,  K.  1284. 

Colds,  cold,  K.  444,  sad,  K.  1062, 
fatal  ( whatmakes  cold),  K.  1609. 
A.S.  cald,  Ger.  kalt,  Lat.  (/clu. 

Colerik,  irascible,  bilious,  P.  587. 
Gr.  X°'^V,  bile  ;  cf.  melan-cholij. 

Colers,  collars,  K.  1294.  Lat. 
collum,  the  neck. 

Come  (pr.  com,  p.p.  comcn),  to 
come,  P.  671,672,  K.4y7.  A.S. 
Citman,  com,  cumen. 

Communes,  commoners,  K.  1651. 
Fr.  commune. 

Compaas,  a  circle,  K.  1031.  Fr. 
compas. 

Companye,  company,  P.  24.  Fr. 
compar/nou  ;  Low  Lat.  conpanium, 
—  panis  =  bread, —  a  messmate, 
hence  an  associate. 

Compassyng,  means  taken  to  ac- 
complish any  thing,  K.  1138. 

Comper,  an  associate  intimate, 
compeer,  P.  670.  O.Fr.  compair, 
Lat.  con -par. 

Complexioun,  complexion,  P. 
333  ;  temperament,  natural  dis- 


])Ositi()n,  K.  1617.  Lat.  com- 
plt'.rio,  a  condiinalion ;  hence 
applied  to  the  color  of  the  skin, 
&c.,  as  revealing  healtli  or 
mental  characteristics. 

Compleynt,  Complaint,  com- 
plaint, K.  2004  ;  arnu'd  complaint 
=  riot,  K.  1154. 

Compleyne,  to  complain,  K.  50. 
Fr.  i-duiphiindvc,  \ii\i.  con-plan- 
(]trc,  literally  to  beat  the  breast 
or  hands  in  token  of  sorrow. 

Composicioun,  mutual  agree- 
ment, P.  848.     Lat.  compositio. 

Comth,  Cometh. 

Comune  —  in  comune,  commonly, 
K.  393. 

Conclusioun,  a  legal  term  denot- 
ing the  close  of  a  pleading,  K. 
987. 

Condicioun,  condition,  P.  38. 
Lat.  conditio,  putting  together. 

Confort,  comfort,  P.  776.  Fr. 
confort,  Lat.  c<w-f<irtix. 

Conforte,  to  comfort,  to  make 
strong  or  brave,  K.  858. 

Confus,  confused,  K.  1372.  Lat. 
confusus. 

Confusloun,  ruin,  K.  687.  Lat. 
confundere.  So  used  in  "  The 
city  of  confusion."  Is.  xxiv. 
10. 

Conne,  to  know,  to  be  able.  See 
Can ;  cf .  to  "  con  a  lesson." 

Conquerour,  conqueror,  K.  4. 
Fr.  conque'rir,  Lat.  conquircre,  to 
seek,  to  obtain  by  seeking , 
hence  to  get  the  victory. 

Conscience,  feeling,  tender-heart- 
edness, P.  142,  150  ;  conscience, 
P.  526.  Lat.  conscientia  (con- 
scire),  what  one  knows  with 
anotiier  :  (1)  joint  knowledge  ; 
(2)  self-consciousness,  —  "no 
more  conscience  of  sin,"  Ileb. 
X.  10 ;  (3)  conscience,  a  recogni- 
tion of  the  obligation;  (4)  the 
faculty  by  which  sucli  recogni- 
tion is  had.  In  K.E.  the  tirst 
meaning  is  common  =  sjmi- 
path3% — as  though  to  know  of 
affliction  was  to  sympathize 
with  it. 


264 


OLOSSAIUAL   INDEX. 


Conseil,  Conseyl,  secret  counsel, 
P.  665 ;  cf.  "  to  keep  one's 
counsel,"  an  adviser,  K.  283, 
28'J;  cf.  "of  counsel."  Lat. 
consnlcre. 

Conserve,  to  preserve,  K.  1471. 
Lat.  r.onservare. 

Constellacioun,  a  conjunction  of 
stars  as  atiecting  the  destinies 
of  men,  K.  230,  —  not  iiere  used 
in  tlie  ordinary  astronomical 
sense.     Lat.  con-stellatio. 

Contek,  strife,  K.  1145.  O.Fr.  con- 
tencer,  to  strive. 

Contenaunce,  countenance,  ap- 
pearance, K.  1058.  Lat.  con- 
tinere,  to  hold  together. 

Contrarye,  an  opponent,  K.  1001. 
Lat.  contra. 

Centre  Contrie,  country,  K.  6, 
355,  P.  216  ;  see  note.  Fr.  con- 
trie ;  cf.  Ger.  gecjend. 

Conveys,  to  accompanj^  to  con- 
vey, K.  1879.  Fr.  convoijcr,  Lat. 
con-via ;  the  later  use  —  to  carry 
—  seems  to  be  from  Lat.  con- 
vekere,  as  when  we  call  a  wagon 
a  conveyance  ;  cf.  convoy. 

Coote,  a  coat,  tunic,  P.  103.  The 
primary  meaning  is  a  matted 
lock  of  wool ;  (2)  a  matted  or 
felted  piece ;  (3)  a  garment 
made  of  similar  material,  and 
covering  the  whole  body. 

Coote-armure,  Cote-a.,  a  coat 
worn  over  the  armor,  upon 
which  the  armorial  devices  of 
the  wearer  were  embroidered, 
K.  158,  1282. 

Cop,  the  top,  P.  554.  A.S.  copp, 
Gcr.  kopf,  Gr.  Ke(p-a?i7i;  l,a.t.  cap- 
ut.    See  note. 

Cope,  a  priest's  gown  which 
reached  to  the  feet,  P.  260 ; 
semi-cope,  a  short  cape,  P.  26  2. 

Corage,  heart,  spirit,  courage,  P. 
11.     Fr.  conrac/e,  Lat.  cor. 

Cordial,  an  invigorating  potion, 
P.  443.     Lat.  cor. 

Corona,  Corowne,  a  crown,  K. 
964.     Fr.  conronne,  Lat.  corona. 

Corrumpable,  corruptible,  K. 
2152. 


Corrumpe,  to  corrupt,  K.  1888 
Lat.  corrumpcre. 

Corven  (p.p.  of  kerve),  cut,  K. 
1838. 

Cosin,  Cosyn,  a  cousin,  kinsman, 
K.  272.  Fr.  from  Lat.  consobri- 
nus. 

Cost,  cost,  P.  213,  799 ;  for  no  cost, 
on  no  account,  for  no  reason, 
P.  192,  Ger.  kosten,  Lat.  constare. 

Cosyn,  allied  to,  P.  742. 

Cote,  a  cell,  cottage  ;  thence  :  (1) 
a  place  in  which  animals  are 
confined,  e.g.  sheepcot;  (2)  a 
place  in  which  men  are  con- 
fined, a  cell,  or,  in  sickness,  a 
bed,  K.  1599.  A.S.  cole,  a  cot- 
tage, bed,  den. 

Cote,  a  coat,  P.  612. 

Couched,  Cowched,  trimmed,  K. 
1303;  laid,  K.  2075.  Fr.  cou- 
clier,  to  lay,  Lat.  coUocare,  to  ar- 
range. 

Counseil,  counsel,  advice,  P.  784  ; 
adviser,  K.  283,  of  ini/  counseil, 
as  in  legal  phrase  "  of  counsel." 

Countour,  auditor,  one  who  man- 
aged or  reviewed  the  fiscal 
concerns  of  a  country,  —  now 
usually  called  a  comptroller, 
P.  359.     Fr.  comptour. 

Countrefete,  to  imitate,  P.  139. 
In  E.E.  the  idea  of  fraud  is 
wanting ;  counterfeit  often  de- 
notes a  painting.  Fr.  contre- 
fa  ire. 

Cours,  course,  P.  8,  a  run  ;  K. 
836.     Fr.  cours,  Lat.  cursus. 

Courser,  a  horse ;  literally,  a  run- 
ner, hence  a  fleet  horse,  one 
used  in  hunting  or  on  the  road, 
K.  94. 

Court,  court,  P.  140.     See  note. 

Courtepy,  a  short  cloak  of  coarse 
cloth,  P.  290. 

Courtesie.     Sec  Curtesee. 

Couthe,  Cowthe,  Cowde,  (1) 
could,  P.  236,  326  ;  (2)  knew,  P. 
467  ;  (3)  p.p.  known,  renowned, 
P.  14      See  Can. 

Covenaunt,  a  written  agreement, 
P.  600.     Fr.  coveiiant,  Lat.  con- 


QL  OB  SARI  A  L   INDEX. 


265 


Covyne,  deceit ;  literally,  a  plot 
between  two  persons  to  injure 
a  tliinl,  r.  G04.     Lat.  convenire. 

Cowardye,  eowardice,  K.  1872. 
See  note. 

Cowde  (pr.  of  can),  could,  P.  94, 
105  ;  knew  how,  was  acquainted 
with,  P.  110. 

Coy,  shy,  P.  119.  Fr.  coij,  coit, 
Lat.  quietus. 

Craechyng,  scratchinij,  K.  1976. 
We  have  added  the  intensive  s. 

Cradel,  cradle,  K.  UGl.  A.S. 
cradol.  Tiie  original  is  found 
in  crate,  an  open  wicker  case  : 
hence,  (1)  any  thing  made  of 
wicker-work,  and  ('J)  any  tiling 
made  in  imitation  of  it ;  e.g. 
fp-nte  ;  cf.  cnid/e,  a  tool  for  cut- 
ting grain,  so  called  from  its 
interlaced  frame. 

Craft,  craft,  calling,  occupation, 
P.  110,  401.  A.S.  craeft.  (1) 
power,  strength ;  (2)  that  to 
which  one  devotes  his  strength, 
—  his  occupation. 

Crafty,  skilled,  K.  1039.  Able  to 
use  one's  craft. 

Crispe,  curled,  K.  1307.  A.S. 
cirpsian,  to  curl,  Lat.  crispns. 

Croppe,  crop,  P.  7,  top,  K.  G74. 
A.S.  crop,  top,  hence  an  ear  of 
corn,  a  harvest;  cf.  the  "crop- 
ping out  of  the  strata;  ''  to  crop, 
to  bite  off  the  top.  Some  derive 
crop  from  gc-rip,  that  which  is 
reaped. 

Crowe,  a  crow,  K.  1834.  A.S. 
craw,  named  from  its  note  ;  cf. 
croak. 

Cruel,  blood-thirsty,  cruel,  K. 
799.  Lat.  crudelis,  from  cmor, 
blood. 

CruUe,  curled,  curly,  P.  81.  Ger. 
krullen,  to  curl  ;  cf.  cruller,  a 
curled  or  twisted  cake. 

Crydestow,  criedst  thou,  K.  225. 

Crye  (pr.  cri/de),  to  cry  aloud,  to 
shout,  P.  630  ;  cf.  A.S.  f/raedaii 
(fie-raedan) ,  Goth,  (ja-raidjan,  to 
command  ;  Scotch,  greet,  to  cry. 

Cryke,  a  creek,  harbor,  P.  409. 
Fr.  crique,  a  little  bay. 


Culpons,  Culpouns,  slireds,  small 
bundles,  P.  679,  K.  2009.  Fr. 
c.ou})oii,  from  coujier,  to  cut. 

Cuntre,  Centre,  country,  P.  216. 
See  note,  Fr.  eontre'c. 

Cuppe,  a  cup,  P.  134.  A.S.  cup- 
jia  ;  cf.  coop. 

Curat,  a  curate,  P.  219  Lat. 
curatus,  from  curare,  to  care  for. 

Cure,  care,  K.  149.  Lat.  ciira. 
Still  used  in  "  the  cure  of 
souls." 

Curious,  (1)  careful;  (2)  wrouglit 
with  care  ;  e.g.,  "  curious 
works,"  Ex.  XXXV.  82;  (3), 
exercising  care  ;  (4)  careful  to 
learn;  (5)  that  requiring  care 
to  understand,  P.  196,  577.  Fr. 
curieux,  Lat.  curlosus. 

Curs,  a  curse,  an  imprecation,  P. 
655.  An  imprecation  of  evil  in 
the  name  of  religion,  —  the 
cross ;  hence,  any  imprecation 
of  evil.     A.S.  curs. 

Curteis,  Curteys,  courteous,  P. 
249. 

Curtesie,  courtesy,  favor,  indul- 
gence, P.  46,  725.  Fr.  comioisie, 
the  manners  of  the  court ;  cf. 
Ger,  hof-licli ;  Iioorish,  from  bauer, 
a  peasant. 

Cuts,  lots  ;  dra Weill  cuts,  draw  cuts 
or  lots,  P.  835;  alluding  to  tlie 
practice  of  determining  the  k)t 
by  drawing  straws  from  the 
thatch,  or  by  drawing  from  the 
hand  straws  cut  different 
lengths.  The  name  and  the 
act  are  common. 

Cytryn,  a  lemon-yellow  color,  K. 
1309. 

D. 

Daggere,  a  dagger,  P.  118 ;  cf. 
dig,  d(ih. 

Daliaunce,  play,  gossip,  P.  211. 
Ger.  daiilen.  "  From  Lat.  talus, 
the  aukle-bone  of  animals,  then 
a  die  to  play  with,  came  ap- 
parently tlie  O.K.  dali/,  a  die, 
playtliing."  Wedgwoocl.  Hence 
play,  spending  time  idly. 


266 


OLOSSARIAL   INDEX. 


Dampned,   condemnetl,  doomed, 

K.  317,  887.     Lat.  damnare,  to 

cause  to  sutler  loss. 
Dar   (2d  sing.    pres.     (hirst;  pr. 

(lorste,  dui'ste),  to   dare,   K.  2'J3, 

282,  P.   454.     A.S.   di/mm,   2d 

pres.  dearst,  pr.  dorste. 
Darreyne.     See  Dereyne. 
Daun,  Dan,  lord,  a  title  of  respect, 

used  as  we  use  sir,  K.  521.    Lat. 

dominus. 
Daunee,  a  dance,  the  olde  daunce, 

the  old  game,  P.  476. 
Daunce,  to  dance,  K.  1344.    Orig- 
inal meaning  to  stamp. 
Daiinger,  a  dangerous  situation, 

P.   402  ;    jurisdiction,   P.    6G3, 

see  note ;   tine,   K.  991.      Lat. 

damnum,  a  fine. 
Daungerous,    arrogant,    sparing 

through  arrogance,  P.  517. 
Daunsynge,  dancing,  K.  1343. 
Dawen,  to  dawn,  3d  sing,  dawetli, 

K.  818.     A.S.  dnf/ian. 
Dayerie,  dairy,  P.  597.  O.E.  dei/e, 

a  dairymaid. 
Dayeseye,  a  daisy,  P.  332.     The 

eye-of-day. 
Dayeslight,     dayhght,     K.    771. 

Liglit-of-day. 
Debate,  fight,  K.  89G.  Fr.  dehdtre, 

to  contend.     From  tlie  root  Ixtt 

(beat)  ;  now  restricted  to  wordy 

battles. 
Debonaire,  gentle,  K.  1424.     Fr. 

d('-l)on-air. 
Decree,  a  law  writ,  P.  640.     Lat. 

dec.retiim. 
Dede,  a  deed,  P.  742.     A.S.  daed, 

a  thing  done. 
Dede  (pr.  oi dmi),  did,  K.  891. 
Dede,  Deed  (e),  dead,  P.  145,  781, 

K.  147  ;  death-like,  K.  720. 
Dedly,  Deedly,  death-hke,  deadly, 

K.  55,  224. 
Deduyt,  pleasure,  K.  1319.    O.Fr. 

drdut. 

Deef,  deaf,  P.  446.  "  The  mean- 
ing of  the  Gothic  daubs,  danfs, 
Ger.  tauh,  Eng.  deaf,  seems 
founded  in  the  notion  of  stoj)- 
ping  an  orifice,"    VVinlgwood. 

Deemeth.     See  Deme. 


Deepe,  Depe,   deeply,    K.    1782 

Allied  to  dip,  dig. 
Deer,  a  deer,  K.  1292.     A.S.deor, 

a  wild  animal ;  Ger.  thier. 
Deere,  dearly,   K.   2242.     Gaelic 

daor,  bound,  precious. 
Deeth,  death,  P.  605.     A.S.  death, 

allied  to  deaf;  cf.  "a  deaf  nut." 
Detye,   renounce,    K.    746.      Fr. 

defter,  Lat.  dis  Jidere. 
Degre   (e),    degree,   rank,  P.   40 

(see  note),  P.  744  ;  position,  con- 
dition,   K.    983 ;     steps,     seats 

rising   one   above   another,   K. 

1032^  1721.     Fr.  degre',  Lat.  gra- 

diis  ;  cf.  degrade. 
Del,  part,   portion,   deal,  K.  967, 

1233  ;    never  a  del,  none  at  all ; 

som  del,  somewhat.     A.S.  dael, 

Ger.  theil;  cf.   "  a   good  deal," 

in   which  good  has  its  original 

force  of  great. 
Delen,  to  share,  to  divide,  to  have 

dealings  with,  P.  247  ;  see  note. 

A.S.  daelan. 
DeUte,  Delyt,  pleasure,  luxury, 

P.  335,  K.  821.     Lat.  delectare. 
Delve   (pr.  delf,  daif,  p.p.  dolven), 

to  dig,   to  toil,   P.    536.'    A.S. 

del/an,  to  dig,  hence  any  hard 

labor. 
Delyvere,  active,  P.  84.     Fr.  de- 

liiu-e,  Lat.  lihrr. 
Deme,    Deeme,     2(1     imperative 

deemeth,    to    judge,    decide,    K. 

495,   1023.      A.S.    deman  ;     cf. 

doom,  dooms-dai/. 
Departe.to  separate,  K.  276.     Fr. 

de'jiarlir :  cf.  department. 
Departyng,  sepai'ating,  K.  1916. 

Lnt.  dis  partire. 
Depeynted,  depicted,  painted,  K. 

1109. 
Dere,  dear,  K.  376.     Gaelic  daor, 

bound,  held  closely,  liencc  pre- 
cious. 
Dere,   to    liurt,    injure,    K.    964. 

A.S.  dcrian. 
Dereyne,  Darreyne,  to  decide  by 

battle,  to  contest,   K.  751,  773. 

A  Normivn  term,  disrener,  from 

Low    Lat.    derutionare ;    cf.   ar- 
raign. 


OLOSSAEIAL  INDEX. 


267 


Dereyved,  derived,  K.  2180. 
Lat.  drnverc,  to  turn  water  from 
its  main  channel. 

Derk(e),  darlc,  K.  1137.  A.S. 
dearc. 

Derknesse,  darkness,  K.  5'Jo. 

Derre  (comj).),  dearer,  K.  590. 

Deryve  (Jid  snig'.  diriotth),  is  de- 
rived, proceeds,  K.  2148  (Lat. 
(/('  and  rivHs,  a  brook)  :  (1) 
(transitively),  to  divert  streams 
of  water  into  side  cliainieis  ;  (2) 
(intr.),  to  tlow  into  side  ciian- 
nels;  hence,  (o)  to  draw  from, 
or  aside. 

Deserve,  to  earn  by  service.,  to 
earn,  K.  374.     Lat.  servire. 

Desir,  Desyr,  desire,  K.  385. 
Lat.  dtsiderlnm,  a  feeling  of 
want  of  something. 

Desiryng,  desire,  K.  10G4. 

Despitous,  Dispitous,  pitiless, 
severe,  P.  51G,  K.  738.  Lat. 
(lis  pietas. 

Despleye,  to  display,  unfold,  K. 
108.  O.Fr.  despbijer ;  cf.  deploij, 
Fr.  dephyer. 

Despyt,  malice,  spite,  K.  83.  O.Fr. 
despit,  Lat.  despicere. 

Destreine,  Destreyne,  to  oppress, 
K.  5'J7.  Fr.  distraindre  ;  cf.  din- 
tress:. 

Destraye,  to  destroy,  K.  472. 
O.Fr.  dcstndre,  Lat.  dcstruerc,  to 
scatter. 

Deth  (e),  pestilence,  P.  605,  a 
corpse,  K.  1150.  Goth,  diirau, 
to  die;  hence,  (1)  the  act  of 
dying;  (2)  that  which  canses 
deatli  ;   (3)  the  result  of  death. 

Dette,  debt,  P.  280.    Lat.  dehitnm. 

Detteles,  free  from  debt  or  o])li- 
gation,  P.  582. 

Devise,  Devyse,  to  speak  of,  to 
relate,  P.  34,  K.  136,  100;  to 
order,  direct,  K.  558 ;  to  cm- 
l)ellish  (to  contrive),  K.  1043. 
O.Fr.  deviser,  to  plan  ;  Lat.  di- 
videre. 

Devoir,  duty,  K.  1740.  Fr.  de- 
voir, Lat.  deliere. 

Devoutly,  earnestly,  devotedly,  P. 
482.  Lat.  deooliis,  held  by  a  vow. 


Devynynge,  divination,  K.   1663. 

Devys,  direction,  advice,  P.  816. 
Jjat.  divisus. 

Devysyng,  ad j  ustment,  arrang- 
ing, K.  1638. 

Dewe,  due,  what  is  due,  K.  2186. 
Fr.  dii  from  devoir. 

Deye  (n)  (pr.  deide,  dci/de),  to  die, 
K.  251.     Goth,  diwiiii. 

Deyere,  a  dyer,  P.  362.  A.S. 
dedijun,  to  die  ;  cW  da//,  dii(/- 
</led. 

Deynte,  dainty,  excellent,  P.  168. 
Welsh,  daiil,  a  tooth. 

Deyntee,  a  dainty,  a  pleasant 
rarity,  I'.  346. 

Deys,  a  dais,  a  raised  ])latf(ii  in  at 
the  end  of  the  hall  upon  which 
persons  of  distinction  were 
placed,  P.  370,  K.  1342.  Fr. 
dais  ;  cf.  Ger.  tiscli. 

Diete,  food,  manner  of  living  — 
not  restricted  as  now  to  food, 
P.  435. 

Dight,  dressed,  arrayed,  K.  183. 
A.S.  diliUin,  to  set  in  order. 

Digne,  worthy,  P.  141  ;  proud, 
disdainful,  P.  517;  noble,  K. 
1358.  Fr.  dif/ne,  Lat.  digims. 
Primary  meaning  is  worthij ;  then 
being  applied  to  great  or  noble 
men,  it  came  naturally  to  sig- 
nify that  which  was  jieculiar  in 
their  bearing,  —  too  often  pride 
or  haughtiness. 

Diocese,  the  jurisdiction  of  <a 
bishop,  P  664.  (ir.  diniKdi',  to 
keep  house,  to  manage. 

Dischevele,  with  uidioundedhair. 
P.  683.      Fr.  derhrnhr. 

Disconfiture,  Disconfytyng,  de- 
feat, discomfiture,  K.  150,  1861. 

Disconfort,  discomfort,  K.  1152. 
Lat.  dis  conjhrfis. 

Disconforten,  to  sadden,  K.  1846. 

Discrecioun,  discretion,  K.  921. 
See  note. 

Discret,  discreet,  able  to  distin- 
guish matters  njjon  examina- 
tion, P.  312.  Fr.  dis<'n/,  Lat. 
discernere,  to  se])arate. 

Disdayn,  disdain.  Fr.  de'dtiii), 
Lat.  dis  dii/iiuri. 


268 


QLOSSABIAL  INDEX. 


Disheryt,  Jisinlieriteil,  K.  2068. 
Lat.  lideres,  an  heir. 

Disjoynt,  disadvantage,  K.  2104. 
Lat.  disjunctns. 

Dispence,  expense,  profusion,  P. 
441,  K.  1024.  Fr.  de'pense,  Lat. 
(lispensare. 

Dispitous,  pitiless,  P.  516.  Lat. 
(lis  iiidas. 

Dispitously,  pitilessly,  sternly, 
K.  206. 

Disport,  gayety,  sportiveness,  P. 
137  ;  sport,  diversion,  P.  775. 
O.Fr.  desport. 

Disposicioun,  arrangement  with 
regard  to  others,  K.  229 ;  men- 
tal traits,  K.  520.  Lat.  disponere, 
to  arrange. 

Distress,  restraint,  confinement, 
K.  595.  Fr.  de'tresse,  Lat.  dis- 
tringere,  to  bind  fast ;  cf .  dis- 
train. This  is  the  usual  force 
of  the  term  in  law. 

Divinis,  divines,  doctors  of  divin- 
ity, K.  465.  Lat.  divinus,  ap- 
pertaining to  the  deity. 

Divisioun,  distinction,  K.  922. 

Do  (n),  Doon  (pr.  dide,  dede,  p.p. 
do  (h),  doon,  3  pi.  pres.  don),  to 
do,  to  perform,  to  do  to,  P.  78, 
208,  K.  141;  to  cause  (aux.), 
P.  706,  768,  K.  84,  697,  1047. 
A.S.  don,  Ger.  iliun. 

Docked,  cut  short,  P.  590.  W. 
toe,  that  which  is  sliort  or  abrupt. 

Doctour,  a  teacher,  a  learned  per- 
son, a  doctor  of  medicine,  P. 
411.  Fr.  docteur,  Lat.  doctus, 
learned.  Literally  a  teacher, 
or  one  qualified  to  teacli  ;  re- 
stricted in  common  use  to  hon- 
orary titles  and  to  tiiose  licensed 
to  practise  medicine. 

Domb(e),  dumb,  P.  774,  A.S. 
diimh,  foolish,  mute  ;  Ger.  dumm, 
stupid  ;  cf.  A.S.  dipn. 

Dome,  decision,  doom,  P.  323. 
A.S.  deviaii,  to  judge  ;  cf.  deem. 

Dominacioun,  control,  K.  1900. 
Lat.  dominns. 

Dong,  dung,  manure,  P.  530. 
Originally  denoting  that  which 
is  wet,  —  allied  to  dag,  daggle. 


Dongeoun,  the  principal  tower  in 
a  castle,  —  a  dungeon  or  strong- 
hold, K.  199.  Lat.  dominus  ;  cf. 
Gael,  dan,  a  fortress ;  also  don- 
jon. 

Dormant,  fixed,  ready,  P.  353. 
Fr.  dormir,  Lat.  dormire,  to  sleej), 

—  hence  dormant  =  in  the  sleep- 
ing posture. 

Dorste  (pr.  ot'dar),  durst,  P.  227. 
A.S.  dtirran,  pr.  dorste. 

Doseyn,  a  dozen,  P.  578.  Fr. 
douzaine,  Lat.  duodecim. 

Double-wise,  duplicate,  similar, 
K.  480.      Wise  =  manner. 

Doute,  doubt,  fear,  P.  487.  Out 
ofdoute  =  without  doubt,  doubt- 
less, K.  283,  Lat.  dubitum,  from 
duo,  two. 

Douteles,  doubtless,  without 
doubt,  K.  973,  1809. 

Dowves,  doves,  K.  1104.  A.S 
duva,  Ger.  tauhe.  Wedgwood 
suggests  from  its  habit  of  duck- 
ing the  head  (dufan,  to  dive), 
but  more  probably  formed  in 
imitation  of  its  note  —  as  is  so 
common  in  the  case  of  animals 

—  which  the  Ger.  tauhe  exactly 
represents. 

Dragges,  drugs,  P.  426.  O.Fr. 
dragee,  spices  ;  A.S.  dryge,  any 
tiling  dried  or  aromatic. 

Draughts,  what  is  drawn,  what 
is  drunk  at  once,  a  swallow,  P. 
135,  382.  A.S.  drohf,  from 
dragan,  to  draw. 

Drawe  (imp.  draweth),  to  draw, 
P.  835,  K.  1689;  to  bear  bur- 
dens, K.  558.  A.S.  dragan  ;  cf. 
drag,  drag ;  Lat.  trahere. 

Drede,  one  who  causes  dread,  P. 
1140. 

Drede  (n),  to  fear,  P.  660;  to 
doubt,  K.  735;  (actively)  to 
inspire  dread.     A.S.  draedan. 

Dredful,  full  of  dread,  stealthy, 
K.  621 ;  used  actively. 

Drenchyng,  drowning,  K.  1598. 
A.S.  drencan,  causative  of  drim- 
can,  to  drink. 

Dresse,  to  ]Mit  in  order,  arrange, 
P.   106,   K.   1736.      "And  the 


OLOSSAEIAL   INDEX. 


269 


Lord  Goil  took  tlie  man  and  put 
liini  into  tlie  garden  of  Edon  to 
dress  it,"  Gen.  ii.  15.  Fr.  dres- 
ser, Lat.  dirigere. 

Dreye,  dry,  K.  2166.     A.S.  drij/. 

Dronke  (n)  (p.p.  oi'drluh  ),  drunk, 
r.  loo,  K.4Uo;  (pret.pl.)  drank, 
P.  820.  A.S.  drincan,  drunc, 
dnuwt'ii. 

Drope,  a  drop,  P.  131.  A.S.  drajKi; 
et'.  i/rip,  dribble,  droop. 

Drought,  drought,  P.  2,  5'J5.  A.S. 
dnu/alh,  from  dri/(/an,  to  dry  up. 

Drowpede,  drooped,  P.  107.  A.S. 
drojiidn,  to  drop. 

Drugge,  to  drudge,  to  drag,  K.  558. 

Duchesse,  feminine  of  duke,  K. 
65.     Fr.  duchesse. 

Duete,  reverence,  K.  2202  ;  ef.  Fr. 
devoir. 

Duk,  a  duke,  leader,  king,  K.  2. 
Lat.  dux,  from  ducere,  to  lead  ; 
now  denotes  the  highest  order 
of  nobihty. 

Dure,  endure,  remain,  K.  378, 
1912.  Lat.  durure,  from  durus, 
iiard,  therefore  lasting. 

Dusken,  to  grow  dark,  to  become 
shaded,  K.  1948. 

Dwelle  (i)r.  and  p.p.  diveld),  to  tar- 
ry, to  remain,  K.  115,  370,  1496  ; 
cf.  A.S.  dwelian,  from  the  root 
dol,  dull  (immobile)  ;  so  also 
dwellimi  =  delay. 

Dyamauntz,  diamonds,  K.  1289. 
See  Adamauntz. 

Dyapred,  wrought  in  flourishes, 
ornamented,  K.  1300;  see  note 
O.Fr.  diusj)re',  Lat.  Jas/iis,  a 
jasper. 

Dyched,  surmounted  by  a  dike  or 
rampart,  K.  1():;0. 

Dyke,  to  ditcii,  to  throw  up  a  dike, 
P.  536 ;  see  note.  A.S  dician  ; 
cf  Gr.  TELXoc 

Dym,  indistinct ;  used  with  refer- 
ence to  sight  and  hearing,  K. 
1575;  see  note.  A.S.  dim;  cf. 
Icel.  duinbn,  darkness. 

Dys,  dice,  K.  380. 

Dyvynistre,  a  diviner,  K.  1953. 

Dyvynyng,  predicting,  K.  1657. 
Lat.  dioiuulio. 


E. 

Ecclesiaste,  an  ecclesiastic,  P. 
708.  Gr.  hiKhjaia,  an  assembly 
of  citizens  called  out  by  the 
crier,  —  used  to  denote  the 
church  as  being  composed  of 
the  called  —  the  elect. 

Ech  (e),  each,  P.  39,  369.  A  S. 
aeic,  ylc.  Formed  from  the 
weak  demonstrative,  as  ().K 
tliiike,  from  the  strong,  wliilL 
(which),  from  the  interrogative, 
and  swiic  (such),  from  the  lel- 
ative,  by  adding  the  suflix  lie 
(body). 

Echon,  Echoon,  each  one,  P.  820. 

Eek,  also,  besides,  eke,  P.  5,  41, 
K.  314.  A.S.  eac,  eccan,  to  add, 
Ger.  aueh. 

Eelde,  Eld,  age,  eld,  K,  1589, 1590. 
A.S.  eald,  i/ld. 

Eeres,  Eres,  ears,  P.  556,  K.  661. 
A.S.  eare,  allied  to  the  verb  /'> 
hear. 

Eese,  Ese,  pleasure,  ease,  P.  768. 
Fr.  aise,  Lat  otiiiiii,  leisure. 

Eet,  Et,  ate,  K.  1199.  A.S.  elan, 
pr.  aef,  p.p.  cteii ;  Lat.  ed-ere ; 
cf.  0(tt. 

Effect,  result,  K.  1624  ;  in  effecte, 
in  fact,  in  substance,  P.  319. 

Eft,  again,  afterwards,  nom/li/  e/i, 
not  again,  K.  811.     A.S.'nejL 

Egle,  an  eagle,  K.  1320.  Fr.  ui(/le, 
Lat.  aquila. 

Elles,  else,  otherwise,  P.  375,  735. 
A.S.  elles,  Lat.  <dius.  El  in  A  S. 
means  foreign  ;  e.g.  el-land,  for- 
eign land. 

Embrowded,  cmliroidored,  P.  89. 
A.S.  brediiii,  to  braid.  Original- 
ly denoting  a  ra])id  movement, 
as  of  the  luinds  in  braiding. 

Emforth,  to  the  extent  of,  accord- 
ing to,  K.  1377.  Literally  even- 
forth, —  em  m  composition  sig- 
nifying eqntd,  as  em-cristen,  a 
fellow-christian. 

Empoisonyng,  poisoning,  K.  1602. 
Lat.  pntio ;  cf.  Ger.  f/ift. 

Emprise,  enterprise,  undertaking, 
K.  1682.     Fr.  entre-prise. 


270 


QL  OS SAIUA  L    ISDEX. 


Eneens,  incense,   K.  1571.     Lat. 

incendere,  to  burn. 
Encombred,   troubled,    P.    508; 

tired    (by   a   burden),   K.  860. 

Fr.     encombrer,    Ger.     kumincr, 

trouble. 
Encrece,    to    increase,    K.    457. 

Lat.  crescere. 
Encres,  increase,  K.  1326. 
Ende,  extremity,  P.  15;  portion, 

vvliat  pertains  to  one,  K.  986  ; 

conclusion,     arrangement,     K. 

1007.     A.S.  ende,  a  part. 
Endelong,   endwise,   lensjftliwise, 

K.  1133. 
Endite,  to  narrate,  relate,  P.  95 ; 

K.   522.      Fr.    enditer,    Lat.    in- 

dicere  ;  cf.  indict. 
Endure,  to  remain,  K.  327.     See 

Dure. 
Enfeete,  infected,  rendered  void 

by  bribery,  or  collusion,  P.  320. 
Engelond,  England,  P.  580.     Lit- 
erally Angel-land,  —  tlie  land  of 

tlie  Angles. 
Engendred,     engendered,      pro- 
duced, P.  5.     Lat.  in-yen-erare  ; 

cf.  kin. 
Enhaunse,   to   elevate,    K.    576. 

O.Fr.  enhauncer,  Lat.  (die. 
Enhorte,  to  enhearten,  encourage, 

K.  1993  ;  cf.  dishearten. 
Enoynt,  anointed,  K.  2103. 
Ensample,  example,  P.  496.  Lat. 

L:n'inj)liun.     Sanijile  retains    the 

old  form. 
Enspired,  breathed  into,  inspired, 

P.  6.    Lat.  inspirare. 
Entente,  intent,  purpose,  K.  142. 
Entuned,  intoned,  P.  123.     Lat. 

tonus  ;  cf.  tune,  lone. 
Envye,  envy,  K  49.    Lat.  inuidia. 
Envyned,  furnished   with   wine, 

P.  842.      line  is  from  the  Fr. 

vi;;ne  ;  wine  is  A.S.  w/n. 
Eny,  any.     A.S.  aenig,  —  the  ad- 
jective form  of  one. 
Er,  before,  ere,  K.  182.     A.S.  ner. 
Erehedeknes,     (gen.)     archdea- 
con's, P.  658. 
Ere,  to  plough,  K.  28.  A.S.  earian ; 

cf.  Lat.  arare. 
Erles,  earls,  K.  1324.     A.S.  eorl, 


man,  noble  ;    originally  a  title 

of  honor,  afterwards  denoting 

an  office,  and  now  again  a  title 

of  nobility. 
Erly,  Erely,  early,  P  33,  809,  K. 

163.     A.S   ailice. 
Erst,  first,  before,   P.  776.     Erst 

than,    sooner   than,   before,   K. 

708.     Supl.  of  A.S.  ««•. 
Erthe,  earth,  K.  388.    A.S.  eorthe, 

card,  as   though   from  eria)i,  to 

till.     Ger.  erde. 
Eschaunge,    exchange,    P.    278. 

( )  Fr.  e^<:han(/e. 
Esen  (i).p.  pseii),  to  entertain,  put 

at  ease,  P.  29,  K.  1336. 
Esily,  easily,  P.  469.     Fr.   aise; 

cf.  A.S.  euthe,  easily. 
Espye,   to    see.  to    spy   out,    K. 

254 ;     cf.     Ger.    spahen.      A.S. 

spi/rian,   to  track   (cf.   spur),  to 

seek  out.     O.E.  speer,  to  ask,  is 

undoubtedly  allied   to  s/n/,   al- 
though espij  is  innnediately  from 

the  Fr. 
Est,  east.    Literally  the  icy  region, 

according  to  Wedgwood. 
Estat,  condition,  state,  P.    522; 

great   estate,  high  condition,  P. 

203.     State  and  its  derivatives 

are  abbreviated  forms. 
Estatlieh,  stately,   P.    140,    281. 

<  ).Fr.  estat. 
Estres,  the   interior   parts  of    a 

building,    K.    1113.      Fr.   esire, 

state,  plan. 
Estward,  towards  the  east,  on  the 

east  side,  K.  1045,  1727. 
Esy,  easy,  easy  to  deal  with,  P. 

223  ;  moderate,  P.  441. 
Eterne,  eternal,  determined,  K. 

251.     Lat.  aevnm. 
Evele,  badly,  evilly,  K.  269  ; /«/ 

ecele,  very  badly.     Gotli.  ubils, 

Ger.  iibel. 
Evene,    medium  ;    evene    lenglhe, 

medium  height,  P.  83;     (adv  ) 

in     a     self-possessed     manner, 

evenly,  K.  665.     A.S.  aefen. 
Evensong,  vespers,  evening  ser- 
vice     P.  830. 
Evere,  ever,  at  any  time,  P.  732 

A.S.  uefer,  from  a,  always. 


QLOSSARIAL   INDEX. 


271 


fiveremo,  lor  ever,  evermore,  K. 

174. 
Everich,        Bveryche,       Every, 

every,  P.  '2,  241 ;  each  of  them, 

P.  371  ;  et)en/ch  a  (on),  eacli  one, 

every  one,  !'■  J^l,  7oo,  747;  lit- 

eraUy,  ecpr-cuch-iiiii'. 
Everydel,  Everidel,   every  part, 

completely,  P.  3G8.     A.S.  dad, 

part. 
Ewe,  a  yew-tree,  K.  20G5. 
Exequies,  funeral  rites,  K.   135. 

Lat.  exeqniae. 
Exiled,  exiled,  K.  386.     Lat.  ex 

and    solum,    away    from    one's 

native  land. 
Expert,  skilled,  experienced,  P. 

577.     Lat.  e.cper/.ns. 
Eyhe  (n),  Eyen,  Ey^hen,  ye,  the 

eye,  eyes,  P.  10,   152,  201,  K. 

38.     A.S.  ea.'/e,  pi-   ('<i(/('n,   Ger. 

auge,  Lat.  oc-idas,  allied  to  edge ; 

cf.  Lat.  acies. 
Eyle,  to  ail,  K.  223.     A.S.  aiUan. 
Eyr,  air,   K.  388.     Fr.  air,'  Lat. 

aer,  perhaps  from  aether. 


P. 

Paculte,  dignity,  ability,  K.  244. 

Lat.   facnltas,    ability    to     do ; 

hence    also    the    charac;ter    or 

bearing  of  an  able  man. 
Fader  (gen.  sing,   fader,  fadres), 

father,'  P.  100,  781.    A.S./aecfer. 

Alliel  to  fh'd. 
Fadme,  fathoms,  K.  20-58.     A.S. 
faethiii,  an  embrace,  a  fathom  ; 

literally,  the  space  measured  by 

the  extended  arms. 
Pain,  Fayn,  glad,  K.  1579,  gladly, 

P.  766.     A.S.   facjin. 
Fair,  comp.  fairere,  uprigiit,  good, 

P.  754.     A.S.  f\ie'j,ir. 
Paire,  fairly,  well,  P.  94,  124,  273  ; 

openly,  K.  126 
Pairnesse,   uprightness,  P.   519 ; 

beauty,  K.  240. 
Faldyng,  coarse  woollen  cloth,  P. 

391  ;  cf.   fdt. 
PaUe  (pr.  j^7  (/),  p.p.  fallu),  to  hap- 
pen, P.  324,  K.  8i0 ;  betall,  P. 


585,  to  fall,  P.  131,  845,  K.  1808. 
A.S.  fv(dlan,  pv.  /ml ;  Ger.  /(dlen. 

Falwe,  pale,  yellow,  sallow,  K. 
506.  AS.  J'eidtue,  yellow,  Ger. 
Jlill) ;  cf.  fallow. 

Famulier,  familiar,  intimate,  P. 
215.  Fr.J'amilier,  Lat.  Jiiinnlns,  a 
servant ;  Jmrdlta,  a  retinue  of 
servants. 

Pare,  affair,  K.  951.  A.S.  faer ; 
literally  a  journey,  from  jiiran, 
to  go ;  cf.  proceeding,  and  Ger. 
ver-faliren. 

Pare  (n)  (pres.  pi.  faren,  p.p. 
fare  [n),  to  fare,  to  go,  K.  403, 
537,  1578.  A.S.  Jaran,  Ger. 
fahren;  cf.  welfare,  farewell. 

Parsed,  stuffed,  P.  233.  Fr./«r- 
cir,  L'dt.  farcire  .:  cf.  forced  meat. 

Parwel,  farewell,  K.  392,  149G. 
A.S../«ra«,  an  imperative. 

Paste,  used  for  emphasis, /ctste  6//, 
close  by,  near,  P.  719 ;  see  note, 
K.  618. 

Fayn.     See  Pain. 

Peble,  unstrung,  weak,  K.  511. 
O.Fr.  fble,  Fr.  faible. 

Pee,  money,  reward,  P.  317  ;  see 
note,  K.  945.  A.S. /Wi,  cattle, 
Ger.  vieh;  cf.  Lat.  ;)ecM«/ff,  from 
pecus.  Fee si/mpte,  iuli  possession, 
P.  319  ;  see  note.  The  develop- 
ment of  meanings  may  have 
been  as  follows  :  (1)  cattle  ;  (2) 
property  (proprium)  ;  hence,  (o) 
possession,  or  the  right  of  i>os- 
session  ;  cf.  also  pecuUum,  peai- 
latio. 

Feeld,  Peld,  field,  country,  (op- 
posed to  town),  K.  28,  664.  In 
heraldry,  the  surface  of  a  shield 
upon  which  armorial  designs 
were  blazoned  ;  that  part  of  a 
banner  upon  which  the  peculiar 
device  is  wrought,  K.  119.  A.S. 
fdd. 

Feere,fear,K.  1486.  Allied  to  A.S. 
faran ;  cf.  Ger.  (jefaJir,  O.E.  ferly. 

Peith,  faith,  P.  62.  Fr.  foi,  Lat. 
fvlp<<. 

Pel,  Pelle,  cruel,  fell,  fierce,  K. 
701,  1772.     A.S./e//. 

Felawe,    companion,     395,    648. 


272 


GLOSS  Alii AL   INDEX. 


From  /e,  money,  goods,  and  lag, 

order,  society,   community;  cf. 

A.S.  (jcf'crnudtn,  i).V^.  Jlulawnid- 

den. 
Felawschipe, fellowship, P.  20, 32. 
Feld.     See  Feeld. 
Felicite,  happiness,  P.  337.     Lat. 

fe/ix. 
Felle  (p.j).  J(:ld),  to  cut  down,  to 

fell  timber,  K.  844,  2006.     A.S. 

fellan,  causative  of  Jeallan,    to 

fall ;  Ger.  fallen. 
Felle,  fierce,  K.  701.     See  Fel. 
Felonye,  high  crime  ;  literally  a 

crime  ])unisliable  with  forfeiture 

of  goods  (A'r),  K.  1138. 
Femynye,   the   Amazons,   K.    8. 

Ijiit.Jcinina,  A.S.  faeinne. 
Fer  (comp.  fciTe,fer,sup\.ferreste), 

far,  P.  388,  491  (comp.)  further, 

more,  K.  UU2.     A.S.  fe?-  as,  as 

soon  as,  K.  7'JO. 
Ferde     (pi.     ferdoi),     proceeded, 

acted,  K.  514,  78'J.     A.S.ymn*, 

to  go. 
Fere,  fear,  K.  475.     A.S.  facr. 
Ferforthly,  according  to,  K.  102  ; 

l[terMy,f<ir-:foit/i-lile. 
Fermacye,  a  medicine,  K.  1855. 
Feme,  distant,  P.  14.  O.J^.  fcrrcn, 

A.S.  feani,  i'rom  fer,  far;  Ger. 

fern. 
Ferre,  Fer,  further,  more,  1^.  48, 

K.  1202. 
Ferreste,  furthest,  P.  494. 
Fers,  fierce,  K.  740.      Lat.  fcro.v, 

ferns,  a  wild  beast. 
Ferthing,  a  fourth  part,  a  small 

portion,  P.  134,  255.     Literally, 

a  fourth-i)i(/ ;  cf .  firJcin. 
Fest  (e),  a  feast,  a  festival,  K.  25, 

1025.     Yv.fefe,  Lat.  fcsfnm. 
Feste,  to  feast,  K.  1335. 
Festne,   to  fasten,   F.   195.      To 

make  fasl;  cf.  Ger.   fasscn. 
Fet     (pr.     of     fecrhe,     brought, 

fetched),P.  8l9,  K.  1669.     A.S. 

fetiim,  pr.  fe.tle. 
Fether,  a  feather,  P.  107.     A.S. 
fetlwr,  Ger.  feder,   allied  to  Gr. 

TTTepov,  akin  to  /?//. 
Fettres,  fetters,    K.  421.     From 

foot ;  cf .  Gr.  tteStj. 
Fetys,  elegant,  neat,  P.  157.     Fr. 


Jciit,  Lat.  /actus  ;  cf.  Eng.  /ear, 
a  noun. 

Fetysly,  properly,  neatly,  P.  124. 

Fey,  faith,  K.  208.  Fr.  foi,  Lat. 
Jidcs. 

Feyne  (pr.  p.p.  J'ci/ncde),  to  feign, 
to  pretend,  P.  705,  730.  Lat. 
Jhujere. 

Fiers,  fierce,  K.  1087.     'Lut.ferox. 

Figure,  a  conception  represented 
in  material  form  ;  a  method  of 
speech  thus  representing  a  con- 
cejition,  P.  499.  In  astrology 
a  representation  or  chart  show- 
ing the  position  of  the  planets 
at  one's  l)irtli,  K.  1177.  Lat. 
JiiKicre,  to  give  form  to. 

Fil,  Fille  (pi.  Jillm,  pr.  of  falle), 
fell. 

Fir,  Fyr,  fire,  K.  044,  2098.  A.S. 
fjjr,  Ger.    fener,  Gr.  TTvp. 

Fithel,  a  fiddle,  P.  290 ;  cf  Ger. 
Jitsrhdii,  to  move  to  and  fro. 

Fleete,  Flete,  to  fioat,  swim,  K. 
1539.  A.S.JlroUtn;  cf. feet,  float. 

Fleissche,  Fleissh,  meat,  flesh,  I^. 
147,  344.  A.S.Jiaesc,  Vicr. fleisch. 

Flen,  to  flee,  to  escape,  K.  312. 
A.S.  fleon. 

Fletyng,  swinmiing,  floating,  K. 
1098. 

Flikeryng,  fluttering,  K.  1101. 
A.S.   fliccerian. 

Flok,  a" flock,  P.  824.  A.S.  Jinc. 
Perhaps  l)y  nietatiiesis  for  Jolc. 

Floren,  a  florin,  K.  1230.  A  coin 
so  named  from  the  city  Flor- 
ence ;  cf .  bezant  from  Byzan- 
tium. 

Flotery,  slovenly,  fluttered,  K. 
2025 ;  cf.  Ger.  flmjende  haare, 
dishevelled  hair. 

Flour,  a  flower,  P.  4,  90,  K.  124. 
Vv.fleur,  Lilt.  /I OS. 

Floytynge,  ])laying  on  a  flute, 
whistling,  P.  91.     \jiit.f <ifns. 

Folde  :  (1 )  an  enclosure  ;  (2)  that 
which  is  enclosed,  P.  512.  A.S. 
fealdati,  to  fold  u]),  to  wrap. 

Folk,  people,  P.  25.  A.S.  folc, 
Ger.  rolk,  Lat.  vul.<iu.s  ;  cf.  flock. 

Folwe  (pr.  ]).p.  folwcde),  to  follow, 
P.  528,  K.  1824.  A.S.  fokjian, 
Ger.  fohjen. 


OLOSSARIAL  INDEX. 


273 


Folwynge,  following,  K.  153J. 
Folye,  folly,  K.   94U.      Fr.  folic. 

Allied  to  fail. 
Fome,  foam,  K.  801.     A.S.  favm, 
/;..i;  of.  Ger.  fianm,  vvliat  will 
jl'n^l;  ci.  foiol,  fr()iii_/?/. 
Fo  (o),  a  foe,  an  ciiuniy,  P.  63, 
K.    732.     A.S.  Jiotjan,  Jiu-.i,  to 
liale ;  cf.  Jicnd  =  one  iiated. 
For,  as  regards,   as   to,   V.   142, 
387;    because,   because  of,   P. 
264,   443,  K.    562,  \)^0■,  fur  al, 
notwithstanding,   K.   1162;    for 
al  the  world,  in  spite  of,  K.  514 ; 
for  cm/  ihiii'/c,  hy  all  means,  P. 
276,  for  fear  of     Tiic  original 
meaning  of  for  is  in  J'roid  of  {be- 
fore, fore,  Lat.  ]iro),  hence  the 
ideas  of  ( 1 )  opposition  ;  (2)  pro- 
tection ;     (3)    comparison;     (4) 
attention.     Also  intensive  and 
negative  preiix.     Ger.  ver. 
Forbere,  to  Ibrbear,  K.  27.     A.S. 
fjrIicriiH.  For  ^negative  jirefix, 
Ger.  ixr ;  cf.  for<iive,  forqet. 
For  blak,  very 'black,  K.  1286. 
Fordo  (p.p.  /'«(A^),  to  ruin,  to  vmdo, 
K.  702.  A.'^.f)rdoii,(:mv.  vcrlhnn. 
Forest,  unsettled  country,  forest, 
K.    1117.      O.Fr.    forest,    Ger. 
forst,   Lat.  foris,  out  of  doors, 
denoting  the  country   without 
the  enclosure  of  towns. 
Forgete  (p.p.  fon/etin),  to  forget, 
K.   21'J6.      A.S.  fonjitaii,   Ger. 
vrrj(ssen. 
Forgive,  to  forgive,  P.  743.    A.S. 
fon/ifan,  Ger.  venjeben  ;  cf.  Low. 
Lat.  per-donure,  Fr.  pardonner. 
Forheed,  forehead,  P.  151.     A.S. 

fore-hcdfod. 
Forme,    form,   proper    forn),     in 
forme,  jiro])erly, formally,  P.  305. 
Forneys,  a  furnace,  1*.  202.     Lat. 

forna.r. 
For  old,  very  old,   K.   1284  ;  cf 

Ger.  vernltrn. 
Forpyned,  wasted  away,  P.  205. 
A.S.  piiKin,  to  pine,  from  jiin 
pain.  For  is  here  intensive. 
Pain  is  from  Fr.  peine,  Lat. 
poena  ;  though  A.S.  pinan  is  no 
doubt  allied. 


Fors,  force,  K.  1865.     Lat.  Jbrtis. 
Forster,  a  forester,  I'.  1 17.  ' 
Forth,  henceforth;    with  verbs  of 

motion,  on ;  K.  804. 
Forther,  comp.  of  fjre,   further, 

P.  36,  835.     A.S.  fnrthra. 
Forthermoor,  further  on,  further- 
more, K.  1211  ;  ct'.furtherli/,  for- 
wards. 
Forthren,  to  aid,  to  fnrtlier,  K. 
279.  A.S.  fi/rt/iriun,  Ger. fordern. 
Forth  telle,  to   tell   on,   to  con- 
tinue a  story,  K.  478. 
Forthi,  for  this,  therefore,  K.  083. 
Tlii  is  instrumental  of  Ihul  ,•  cf. 
O.E.  for-ivlu/. 
Fortunen,  to  make  fortunate,  to 
determine  one's  fortune,  P.  417. 
Lat.  fors. 
Forward,  a   promise,   an   agree- 
ment, P.  33,  829,  K.  351,  1761. 
A.S.foreivord,  a  word  given  be- 
forehand. 
Fother,  a  wagon  load,  P.  530 ;  a 
large  mass   or  sum,  K.    1050. 
A.S.  fother,  Ger.  fader. 
Foughten  (pr.  and  p.p.)  fought, 
K.   811,    P.  62.      A.S.  feoldan, 
fc.(dit,  fohlm. 
Foul,  P'.  501.  A.S.fd,  Goth. fuls, 
Ger.  fdiil ;  cf.  fliti.     The  prim- 
itive meaning   seems   to   have 
been  putrid. 
Founden,  p.p.  found,  K.  754. 
Foundre,  to   fall  down,  K.   1829. 

O.Fr.  Jbudrer,  to  sink. 
Fourtenight,  a  fortnight,  K.  71. 

Fourteen-niglits. 
Fowel  (pi.  fowles),  a  bird,  a  fowl, 
P.  9,   190.      A.S.  figol  (jliHjol, 
from  flecMjan,  to  fly),  Ger.  voijcl, 
Fr.  rolaiilc. 
Foyne  (n),  to  make  a  stroke  witli 
a  sword  or  spear,  K.  796,  1692. 
O.Fr.  fiigner. 
Frankelyn,  a  free-holder,  country 
gentleman,   P.    216.      Properly 
the  son  of  a  vilein  who  has  be- 
come  rich  and   purchased   his 
freedom.     Frank  =  free. 
Fre,   free,   P.    852.      A.S.  freoh, 
Goi\\.  frija;  cf.  Goth.  yi'ij'oM,  to 
love,  Ger.  frei. 


i8 


274 


OLOSSARIAL   INDEX. 


Fredom,  liberality,  freedom,  P. 
46.  A.S.  dom  =  coinlition,  Gp^ 
thnm. 

Freknes,  freckles,  K.  loll  ;  cf. 
Ger-jU'ck,  a  spot. 

Frend,  Freend,  a  friend,  P.  299, 
670,  K.  610.  A.S.  freond,  from 
frcon;  Ger.  freund,  Goth.  Jrljon, 
to  love.     Free  is  allied. 

Frere,  a  friar,  P.  208.  Fr.  frere, 
Jjiit.fnifer. 

Fresshe,  Freissh,  Freisch,  fresh, 
P.  'JO ;  see  note  ;  freshly,  newly, 
K.  100.  A.S.  fersc;  cf  brisk, 
frisk,  Ger.  frisch,  Fr.  frais. 

Frete  (n)  (p.p.  /i-e/e«),  to  devour, 
to  eat  up,  K.  1169.  A.S.  fretan, 
Eng.  fret,  Ger.  fressen. 

Fro,  from,  P.  324,  K.  213.  A.S. 
/ivf  ,•  cf.  "  to  and  fro,"  for- 
ward. 

Frothen,  to  froth,  foam,  K.  801. 
A.S.  frcothan,  to  rub,  —  effect  for 
cause. 

Fruyt,  advantage,  enjoyment, 
fruit,  K.  424.  Lat.  fructus,  from 
frui,  to  enjoy. 

Ful,  fully,  completely,  very,  P. 
22,  47,  136.     From  f  11. 

Fulfille,  ihp./idfild,  to  fill  full,  to 
gnitify,  to  satiate,  K.  82,  460. 
A.S.fi(l-fij/l<ui. 

Funeral,  burial,  funeral  service, 
K.  2006.  Lat.  J'uneraliit,  rites 
appertaining  to  the  burial  of 
tlie  dead. 

Fustyan,  a  coarse  clotli,  P.  75. 
So  called  from  Fostat  or  Fossat 
(Cairo),  the  place  of  its  man- 
ufacture ;  now  used  to  denote 
pretentious  speed  i ;  cf.  bombast, 
from  bombazine,  cotton  cUith. 

Fyfe,  five,  P.  460.  A.S.  ff,  Ger. 
Junf,  Lat.  pente,  Gr.  Trh'Ts. 

Fyle'd,  cut,  filed,  K.  1294. 

Fynde,  to  invent,  P.  736,  to  pro- 
vide, K=  1555.  A.S..;^KO?an,  Ger. 
Jindcii. 

Fynger  (pi.  Jinrjres),  a  finger,  P. 
129.  A.S.  finger,  from  fangan, 
to  seize  ;  ci.  fane/. 

Fyr,  a  funeral  fire,  a  pyre,  K. 
20-36  ;  fire,  Iv  2084. 

Fyr-reed,  red  as  fire,  P.  624. 


G. 

Gader  (p.p.  ejadrede),  to  gather,  P. 
824.     A.S.  (/aderian. 

Gaf  (pr.  ot  give),  gave,  P.  227. 

Galyngale,  sweet  cyperus,  P.  381. 

Game,  sport,  pleasure,  K.  948, 
1250.     A.S.  (/anie  ;  cf.  gamester. 

Gamede  (impersonal),  pleased, 
P.  534.  A.S.  gamenian,  to  sport. 
The  noun  retains  its  original 
signification,  while  the  verb  de- 
notes ])lai]  in  the  sense  of  gam- 
bling. 

Gan  (v.  aux  ),  did  ;  gan  preye,  did 
pray,  prayed,  P.  301 ;  gan  espjje, 
did  espy,  K.  254 ;  e/an  knytte, 
knitted,  K.270:  began,  K.  082. 
See  Bigan. 

Gappe,  an  opening,  a  gap,  K. 
781.  A.S.  geapan,  to  gape,  to 
open.  An  opening  in  a  range 
of  mountains,  or  in  a  fence,  is 
colloquially  called  a  gap. 

Gapyng,  gaping,  with  the  mouth 
wide  open,  K.  1150. 

Gardeyn,  a  garden,  an  enclosed 
place,  a  yard,  K.  193.  A  R. 
(/eard;  see  note,  P.  149;  ci'.i/ard. 

Garleek,  garlic,  P.  034.  A.S. 
gar,  a  spear,  leac,  a  plant ;  cf 
9«r-pike,  hem  lock. 

Gastly,  terrible,  K.  1126 ;  cf. 
aghast.  Goth,  geisan,  to  terrify, 
gaze.     So  also  gaste,  to  terrify. 

Gat  (pr.  of  get),  obtained,  gat,  P. 
703.     A.S.  gitan,  pr.  geat. 

Gate,  a  gate,  a  passage-way,  K. 
557.  A.S.  geat,  probably  from 
geotan,  to  pour  out;  cf.  Hell- 
gate. 

Gat-tothed,  liaving  teeth  wide 
apart,  P.  468. 

Gauded,  ornamented,  fitted  with 
geiiides  or  large  beads,  P.  159, 
see  note  ;  cf.  gandi/,  Lat.  gaudi- 
um. 

Gaude-greene,  light  green,  K. 
1221. 

Gaudes,  large  beads  on  a  rosary 
indicating  a  pater  nostcr,  P.  159. 

Gay,  fast,  active,  P.  74  ;  cf.  Ger. 
jdlie,  hasty  ;  ornamented,  P. 
111.     Fr.  qai. 


GLOSSARIAL   INDEX. 


275 


Gayler,  jailer,  gaoler,  K.  206. 
Irish   iiiililiti'il,  to  take  jirisoner. 

Gayne  (n),  to  avail,  K.  818.  A  S. 
(li'ijn  ;  cl'.  </ijii(iii,  to  gain.  From 
tiie  idea  of  ojjposition  comes 
the  idea  of  juxta])()si''on,  and 
hence  the  idea  of  addition.  So 
also  irit/i. 

Geere,  Ger  (e),  articles  for  use, 
—  particularly  clothing  and 
weai)ons,  P.  352,  8B5,  K.  158, 
1822  ;  external  appearance,  de- 
meanor, K.  51-1.  A.S.  f/earwa, 
clothing,  preparation,  from  r/e«r- 
wi(ni,  to  make  ready;  cf.  E.E. 
i/are,  ready. 

Gentil,  noble,  well-bred,  P.  72, 
507,  0(V.).  K.  1G81;  affable,  lib- 
eral, P  (')17.  Lat.  (jenfi/is,  from 
(/(■ii'i.  The  following  may  have 
been  the  order  of  develo]mient : 
(1)  highborn;  (2)  with  the 
manners  of  those  high-born, 
genteel  ;  (3)  with  the  mental 
qualities  of  the  high-born,  gen- 
tle ;  (4)  by  analogy  applied  to 
things. 

Gentilnesse,  nobility  ;  hence  also 
the  mental  traits  which  should 
distinguish  the  well-bred,  gen- 
tleness, gentility,  K.  62. 

Ger  (e).     See  Geere. 

Gerdel,  a  girdle,  P.  358.  Ger. 
fjiirtd,  Goth,  f/airda,  allied  to 
//((/■(/,  an  inclosure. 

Gerful,  changeful,  K.  680.  Lat. 
(/i/rnrf. 

Gerland,  a  garland,  K.  196. 
Primitive  meaning  =  an  orna- 
ment ;  allied  to  (jallant ;  Fr.  <;/«>- 
Jiindc. 

Gerner,  a  garner,  granary,  P.  593. 
Fr.  iircnirr,  Lat.  granarium. 

Geryj  changeable,  K.  078.  Fr. 
(jirer,  Lat.  gijrare. 

Gesse,  to  think,  suppose,  P.  82, 
118.  A  frequentative  ihjm 
O.N.  qela,  to  get. 

Get,  fashion,  P.  G82.  O.Fr.  (jd, 
contrivance.  We  use  gri-nj)  in 
this  sense. 

Gate  (n)  (pr.  ii<ii,  ]>  (>.  r/etm),  to 
get,   acquire,  P.  291 ;  to  keep 


possession  of  (cf.  Lat.  obthifvc), 

K.  1897.     A.ii.ip't(iit,rjmf^  rjetcn. 
Giggyng,  making  ready,  moving 

quickly,  Iv.  1646. 
GUe,  guile,  deceit,  K.  1738.    A.S. 

wile,    Eng.   loi/ns,  wily.     Where 

the  same  word  is  spelled  with  w 

and  <]u  it  indicates  a  Teutonic 

word    which    has   come   to    us 

through  both  the  A.S.  and  the 

Fr. 
Gilteles,  free  from  blame,  ginlf- 

less,  K.  454. 
Gipoun,  a  short  frock  or  cassock, 

P.  75.     Fr.  (jlpon ;  cf.  jumper,  a 

jacket. 
Gipser,  a  i)ursc,  P.  357.     Fr.  gih- 

hcciirc,  a  pouch,  (/ilif'e,  a  bunch. 
Gird,  p.p.  girded,  P.  329. 
Girt,  pierced ;    thuiy-girt,  pierced 

through,    K.    152.      From    the 

notion    of  striking  implied    in 

A.S.  i/ijrd,  a  rod. 
Gladen,  to  cheer,  to  make  glad, 

K.  1917.    Allied  to  y/iltpr,  "And 

oil  to  make   his  face  to  shine," 

Ps.  civ.  15. 
Gladere,  one  who  makes  glad,  K. 

18(')5. 
Glaryng,    staring,    P.    684:    (1) 

shining  ;  (2)  evident ;  (3)  large, 

easily    seen.      Allieil     to   Lat. 

ehiriin,  <jloria,  Eng.  (j/nre. 
Glas,  gray  amber  or  ambergris, 

P.  152;  any  thing  made  of  glass, 

a  glass  case,  P.  700.    A.S.  (//«es. 

From   the   root  f/lare,  (jJow :  cf 

Ger.  (//f'isxen,  to  shine. 
Gleede,  a  burning  coal,  K.  1139. 

A.S.  /;/«/,  from///c<«'(/;(,  to  glow  ; 

Ger.  i;/Uhe)K 
Glowen    (p.    (//mrede),    to    ulow, 

shine,  K.  1274. 
Go  (n).  Goon  (pres.  sing,  yt/l/i,  pi. 

f/oii.  (joon,   pp.    (jo   [n],  goon),  to 

walk,  to  go,  K.'.598,  P.'  771,  K. 

663,  2164,  P.  377,  450,  K.  1394. 

A.S.  (/an  (r/anf/an),  p.p.  (/(inf/en. 
Gobet,   a    small    piece,    P.   696. 

O.Fr.  f/oli,  a  morsel.      Still  in 

colloquial  use. 
Godhede,   divinity,  godhead,   K. 

1523  ;  cf .  miiu-hood. 


276 


GLOSSARIAL   INDEX. 


Grolyardeys,  a  buffoon,  a  glutton, 
r.  5(;0. 

Gonne,  pi.  of  r/an  (q.v.),  began, 
K.  800;  did  (v.  aux.),  K.  1021. 

Good,  goods,  property,  P.  581. 
A.S.  jrof?  (s.  &  pi.)  ;  Lat.  Itoim, 
Gr.  uyadu,  are  all  used  similarly. 

Good  (e),  good,  P.  850.  A.S.  (/od, 
Goth,  f/otliti,  Gr.  uyuOui,  Ger. 
{/Ht.  Tiie  re.seniblanee  between 
(/ood  and  God  is  probably  only 
accidental. 

Goost,  a  ghost,  spirit,  P.  20G ; 
see  note.  A.S.  yast ;  cf.  <jaze, 
to  terrifj' ;  Ger.  (/etsf,  a  spirit. 

Goot,  a  goat,  P.  688.     A.S.  (/at. 

Gooth,  goetb,  goes,  K.  213. 

Gospel,  the  gospel,  P.  481.  A.S. 
i/od-spcll,  good  tidings ;  cf.  Gr. 
EvayjsTiiov. 

Goune,  Gowne,  a  gown,  P.  93, 
3'Jl.  W.  (jwh;  "cf.  Nor.  Fr. 
youiie,  It.  (jonna. 

Governaunce,  management,  con- 
trol  P.  281,  K.  455. 

Governynge,  control,  P.  5U'J.  See 
note. 

Grace,  favor,  P.  88,  K.  262 ;  gift, 
I'.  578.  Lat.  fjratia,  that  given 
without  retui-n ;  cf.  f/rutis. 

Graunte,  a  grant,  concession, 
favor,  K.  448. 

Graunte,  to  grant,  to  ])romise,  P. 
786,  K.  762.  Fr.  granter,  cre- 
anter.  The  two  meanings  have 
different  origin. 

Grauntyng,  permission,  K.  1581. 

Gree,  a  prize,  K.  1875.  Fr.  gre, 
Lat.  gratum. 

Greece,  grease,  P.  135.  Fr. 
/•raisRe,  Lat.  crassiis. 

Greene,  Grene,  green,  P.  108. 
A.S.  grene,  from  growan,  to 
grow  ;  hence  the  color  of  grow- 
ing plants  ;  metaphorically  ap- 
plied to  persons  to  denote  im- 
maturity ;  cf.  Lat.  viridis,  from 
virere. 

Grene,  growth,  prosperity,  K. 
654. 

Gret,  Greet  (def.  and  pi.  grete, 
grette,  comp.  grettere  ;  supl.  gret- 
teste),  great,  superior,  P.  84, 137; 


(comp.)  P.  197,  (supl.)  P.  120. 
A.S.  qrcnt :  cf.  Ger.  i/ross. 

Greve,  a  grove,  pi.  branches,  K. 
637,  649.  A.S.  graef,  from 
grafan,  to  cut.  So  grove  is  used 
in  ,«cripture  for  a  graven  image, 
a  statute  ;  cf.  grave,  grub. 

Greve,  to  grieve,  K.  59.  Lat. 
gnivare,  to  oppress. 

Greye,  gray,  P.  152.  A.S  graeg, 
Ger.  grati ;  cf.  Gr.  ypala,  an  old 
woman.  "  The  original  mean- 
ing is  probably  parti-colored," 
Wedgwood. 

Greyn,  grain,  crops  of  grain,  P. 
596.     Lat.  grannm. 

Grilfoun,  a  griffin,  —  a  mythologi- 
cal animal,  a  lion  witli  an  eagle's 
head,  wings,  and  talons,  K.  1275. 

Grisly,  dreadful,  K.  505.  A.S. 
grislic,  from  qrisan,  to  dread. 

Grope,  to  try,'test,  P.  644.  A.S. 
grajiiiiii,  to  feel  with  the  hand. 
Ger.  greifen ;  cf.  grab,  grabble, 
garble,  (jrip,  gripe,  grapple,  grasp, 
■&c. 

Groynyng,  stabbing,  K.  1602. 
See  note. 

Grucehe,  to  murmur,  grudge,  K. 
2187.     Fr.  grouc/ier,  to  rumble. 

Gruf,  flat  on  the  ground,  K.  91. 
See  note  ;  cf.  grovel. 

Grym,  Grim,  fierce,  terrible,  grim, 
K.  1184.  A.S.  grim,  from  grim- 
man,  to  rage  ;  cf.  gram. 

Grys,  fur  of  the  Siberian  squirrel, 
P.  194.     Fr.  gris,  gray. 

Guide,  the  marigold,  K.  1071. 
Mary's  flower. 

Gulty,  guilty,  P.  660.  A.S.  gi/lt, 
crime,  —  that  whicli  must  be 
atoned  for,  from  gi/ldan,  to  pay, 
— crimes  being  usually  punished 
by  fine  ;  hence  guilt  would  sig- 
nify :  ( 1 )  the  money  paid  as  a 
fine  (cf.  Ger.  gelt) ;  (2)  the  crime 
thus  atoned  for ;  (3)  an  expos- 
ure to  legal  penalty. 

Gurles,  young  people  of  either 
sex,  P.  664.     See  note. 

Gyde,  a  guide,  P.  804.  A.S.  and 
Goth,  witan,  to  watch  over; 
Ger.  wcistn. 


GL0S8ARIAL   INDEX. 


277 


Gye,  to  guide,  turn,  K.  1092.    Fr. 

(jnider,  —  tlie    same    word    as 

guide;  cf.  ywy-ropu.     See  supni. 
Gylt,  guilt,  k.'  907.     See  Gulty. 
Gyngelen,  to  jingle,  P.   170;  ef. 

Ger.  klingeln. 
Gynne,  to  begin,  K.  2160. 
Gyse,  fashion,  manner,  //"/.sy',  cus 

tom,  K.   135,   350.      Fr.    (jnise, 

Eng.  wisp,  Ger.  iveisc. 

H. 

Haberdasher,  a  dealer  in  miscel- 
laneous nrtic'les,  P.  861.  See 
note. 

Habergeoun,  Habergoun,  a  small 
coat  of  mail,  P.  76,  K.  1261. 
A.S.  /ipcils,  neck,  heonjfi,  prote.  - 
lion  ;  Ger.  halslierq. 

Habyt,  physical  temperament, 
habit  of  body;  also  customary 
ai)pearancc,  dress,  K.  520.  Fr. 
habit,  Lat.  luihitiis. 

Hadde,  Hade,  had,  P.  554.  Syn- 
copated form  of  lutvcd. 

Hakko,  to  cut  up,  to  cut  with 
many  strokes,  K.  2007.  A.S. 
harcan  ;  cf.  hatchet ;  Fr.  harher, 
to  mince  ;  Eng.  hush. 

Halfe  (adv.),  half,  P.  8.  A.S. 
healfe,  Ger.  Iialb.     See  note. 

Halwes,  shrines,  saints,  P.  14. 
A.S.  h<tH<_i,  lioly,  Eng.  h(dlow. 
So  All  hallow-evc  =  All-saints- 
evc. 

Hamer,  a  hammer,  K.  1650.  A.S. 
hauior. 

Han,  to  have,  P.  378.  A  syn- 
copated form  of  haven  (inf.). 

Happe,  to  happen,  P.  585.  flap, 
lu(;k  ;  cf  hap/ii/,  mifthap,  pn-haps. 

Harde,  firm,  strong,  K.  1277. 
A.S.  heard,  Ger.  hart,  Goth. 
hardus,  Gr.  Kuprog :  (1)  what  is 
firm  or  strong;  (2)  what  may 
be  relied  on  ;   (cf  hardi/). 

Hardily,  certainly,  P.  156. 

Hardy,  bold,  daring,  P.  405,  K. 
853  ;  literally,  strong.  See  Har- 
de.     Fr.  hardi,  A.S.  heard,  bold. 

Hardynesse,  boldness,  K.  1090. 
The  idea  of  rashness  is  now  as- 


sociated with  this  word,  asfool- 
ha rdinesfs ,  hardi h ood. 
Haried,  hurried,  taken  prisoner, 
K.  1868.    A.S.  iierian,  Yr.harier. 
The  origin  may  be  Fr.  harer,  to 
set  on  a  dog. 
Harlot,   a  youtli,  P.   647 ;   later 
denoting  :  ( 1 )  a  person  of  low 
birth,  or  one  engaged  in  menial 
service ;    (2)  a  person   of  bad 
conduct,  especially  a  woman  of 
bad   character.      It    originally 
signified  a  young  man.    W.  Iier- 
lod,  a  youth ;  cf  Lat.  adulter  = 
adult. 
Harlotries,  youthful  pranks,  rib- 
aldries, P.  561. 
Harme,    harm,  evil,   misfortune, 
calamity,   K.  401,   1371.     A.S. 
Iiearm,  tier,  harm  ;  allied  to  gram. 
Harnays,     Harneys,    Herneys, 
armor,    harness,    K.    148,    755, 
1282.    Fr.  harnais,  Ger.  harnifich. 
I'robably  allied  to  iron,  although 
Wedgwood  suggests  a  different 
derivation.    It  denotes :   ( 1 )  iron 
armor  worn  by  men  ;  (2)  the 
armor  worn  by  horses;   (3)  the 
usual  equipment  of   a    horse; 
(4)  that  which  serves  the  pur- 
pose of  equipment. 
Harneysed,    equipped,  hung   by 

straps,  P.  114. 
Harpyng,  harping,  P.  266,  A.S 
hearpe,  Ger.  harjh.  Named  from 
the  manner  of  playing  it  with  a 
hook  to  pick  the  strings.  So 
Gr.  iLpirri,  a  hook. 
Harre,   a   hinge,   P.  550.      A.S, 

lieorra. 
Hauberk,  a  coat  of  mail.K.  1573. 

See  Habergeon. 
Hauke,  a  hawk,  falcon,  K.  1346. 
A.S.    Iiafoc,    from    hehhan    (p.p. 
ha/en),  to  lift;  cf.  havoc. 
Haunt,  skill,  prac^tice,  P.  447.  Fr. 

hanter,  to  haunt. 
Hawthorn,  hedge-thorn,  haw- 
thorn, K.  6-50.  A.S.  har/a-thorn, 
Ger.  ha>/pdorn. 
Hede,  Heed,  head,  P.  198,  455t 
551.  A.S.  Iieafod,  from  htbban, 
to  raise  up. 


278 


GLOSS ARIAL   INDEX. 


Heeld,  lield,  P.  337.  A.S.  henl- 
dan,  pr.  Iwold,  \).\).  healden. 

Heep,  a  lar^e  luimber,  a  large 
amount,  I'.  575.  A.S.  heap,  a 
heap,  legion,  or  company.  Still 
so  used  in  Southern  States. 
Ger.  hcvifc. 

Hear,  hair,  P.  589,  K.  191.  A.S. 
luur,  Ger.  haar. 

Heete,  to  promise,  grant,  K.  15-40. 
A.S.  Iidffin;  cf.  hest,  behest. 

Heeth,  the  open  country,  a  heath, 
P.  6.  A.S.  haeih,  Ger.  /wide, 
whence  heathen,  hoijden  =  rus- 
tic. 

Heigh,  Heih,  high,  great,  K.  207, 
040 ;  heifjher  hand,  upper  hand, 
superior,  P.  398.  A.S.  heah, 
Ger.  hoch. 

Hele,  well-being,  health,  K.  413 
A.S.  httel,  hale,  whole;  Ger.  heil. 

Hele,  to  heal,  K.  1848.  A.S. 
hnelan,  to  heal,  to  make  whole ; 
Ger.  heilen. 

Helle,  hell,  the  unseen  world,  the 
I)lace  of  punishment,  P.  G58,  K. 
342.  A.S.  helan,  to  conceal  : 
hence,  literally,  (1)  the  place 
where  tlie  body  is  concealed,  — 
the  grave  ;  (2)  the  place  where 
the  spirit  is  concealed,  —  hades ; 
(3)  tlie  place  of  future  punish- 
ment.    Ger.  holle. 

Helmes,  helmets,  K.  1751.  A.S. 
helm,  from  hehin,  to  hide. 

Helpen  (pr.  halp,  p.p.  hoi  pen),  to 
help,  to  cure,  wlien  followed  by 
of,  P.   18,  6.32.     A.S.  helpnn. 

Hem,  tliem,  P.  11,  18.     A.S.  him. 

HemseLf  (Hemselven),  them- 
selves, K.  396. 

Heng  (pr.  of  honge),  hung,  P.  160, 
358.     A.S.  hanqan,  pr.  heny. 

Henne,  hence,  K.  1498.  A.S. 
hinan. 

Hente  (n)  (pr.  hente,  p.p.  hent),  to 
seize,  get,  P.  299,  (pr.)  P.  698, 
K.  442,  (p.p.)  K.  723.  A.S. 
hentan  ;  cf.  to  hunt. 

Heraude,  Herowd,  a  herald,  K. 
159.     O.H.G.  harnu  to  shout. 

Herbergh,  a  harbor,  an  inn,  P. 
403,  765.  A.S.  herelr.orgd,  a 
station  where   an  army  (here) 


encamps  on  its  march  ;  beorgan, 
to  protect ;  Ger.  herhergen  ;  cf. 
bitn/h,  boruugli. 

Herd,  haired,  K.  1660. 

Herd3,  a  keeper  of  cattle,  P.  603. 
A.S.  hip-de,  a  kee])er  ;  cf.  shep- 
herd, cow-herd.  Wedgwood  in- 
geniously derives  heid  from 
harcr,  the  cry  made  to  set  on  a 
dog. 

Herde  (p.p.  of /;«»),  heard,  P.  848. 

Here,  hair,  P.  555,  K.  530.  A.S. 
haer,  Ger.  haar. 

Here  (gen.  pi.)  of  them,  their 
(ennim),  P.  11,  366;  here  alter, 
of  them  all,  P.  586. 

Here  (dat.  sing.)  to  this,  here 
ag/iijns,  against  this,  K.  2281 ; 
her  inne,  in  this,  K.  2215. 

Here,  to  hear,  K.  986.  A.S. 
hipiin,  lieran. 

Herinne,  in  this  (company),  K. 
2215.     Her  is  dative. 

Herkne,  imperat.  pi.  herkneth,  K 
1674,  P.  788,  K.  985.  A.S. 
heorcnian,  emphatic  form  of 
hi/ ran. 

Herneys.     vSee  Harnays. 

Hert,  a  liart,  a  stag,  K.  817,  831. 
A.S.  heart,  Ger.  hirsch.  The 
female  is  called  a  hind. 

Herte,  a  heart,  P.  150.  A.S. 
heorte,  Ger.  herz,  Lat.  cor. 

Herte-spon,  the  navel,  K.  1748. 

Hest,  command,  K.  1674.  A.S. 
hafan. 

Hethe  (see  Heeth),  a  heath,  the 
open  country,  P.  606. 

Hethenesse,  lieathen  lands,  P.  49. 

Heve,  to  iieave,  lift,  P.  550.  A.S. 
hebbnn,  pr.  hof,  p.p.  hafcn,  Ger. 
hehen. 

Hew  (e),  color  (lienco  also)  com- 
plexion, P.  394,  K.  180;  (pi.) 
colors,  K.  1230.  A.S.  hiiv,  form, 
color. 

Hewe,  to  cut,  heiv,  K.  564,  2067. 
A.S.  heaivan. 

Hider,  hitlier,  P.  672.    A.S.  hider. 

Hidous,  hideous,  K.  1120.  O.Fr. 
hld<,»s. 

Hidously,  dreadfully,  hideously, 
K.  843. 

Hight,  promised,  K.  1614.    A.S. 


GL0S8ARIAL   INDEX. 


279 


hatan,  to  promise.      Tliis  verb 

and  the  following  are  un(lou])t- 

odly   allied,   although   in    A.S. 

the  preterites  were  formed  dif- 
ferently. 
Highte,  wa.s  called,  is  called,  P. 

(ilC),   711),    K.    383,   570.      A.S. 

/ichi,  pr.  of  hatan,  to  call,  to  be 

called,  to  name ;    Ger.  heissen, 

Gotl).  haitdii,  j)r.  haihait. 
Highte,  in  hiqhte,  aloud,  on  high, 

K.  <J26. 
Hihe,  high,  K.  1G05.     A.S.  heah, 

Ger.  Iioch,  hcihe. 
Him,  himself,  K.  2192. 
Himselve,  Himselven,  dat.   and 

ace.  of  ItiniselJ]  P.  184,  528.    See 

note. 
Hipes,  hips,  P.  472.     A.S.  hype. 
Hire    (sing,    fem.)    her,   P.    120. 

A.S.   hire   (gen.   pi.)   their,    K. 

25.     A.S.  hcora. 
Hit,  it,  P.  345,  K.  604.     A.S.  hit, 

gen.  his. 
Holde  (pr.  held,  p.p.  hold,  holden), 

to  hold  in  esteem,  P.  141, 182,  K. 

832,  1861,  (p.p.)  beliolden,  held, 

K.  449 ;  cf.   Ger.   behulten,  also 

Lat.  hahere. 
Holly,  wholly,  P.  599. 
Holpen,   (see    Helpen),    helped, 

P.  18. 
Holte,  a  grove,  P.  6.     A.S.  holt, 

Ger.  holz. 
Holwe,    hollow,    gaunt,   P.   289. 
•  A.S.  hoi,  a  hole;  Ger.  hohl. 
Holy,  devoted  to  sacred  purposes, 

P.  17,  479,  K.  1355.    A.S.  /»<%, 

Ger.  heilig. 
Home,  Hoom,  home,  hoom-comiwi 

=  return  home,  K.  26;  homward, 

towards  home,  K.  1881.     A.S. 

/(«m,  Ger.  heiin. 
Hond  (s.  and  pi),  a  hand,  hands, 

P.  108,  K.  1245.     A.S.  hand. 
Honest,  honorable,  P.  246.     Lat. 

Iiouestns. 
Honestly,  honorably,  suitably  to 

one's  station,  K.  586. 
Honge  (n),  (pr.  henr]),  to  hang,  P. 

676,  K.  6;^8. 
Honte  (r),  a  hunter,  K.  780,  820. 

A  S.  hunta,  from  hentan,  to  seize. 


Honte  (n),  to  liunt,  K.  782.    A.S. 

hwilian. 
Honting,  hunting,  on  hontim)  =  a- 

hunting,  K.   829;  cf.  a-fishing. 

See  note. 
Hood,    hat,    hood,    P.   195,    612. 

A.S.  hod,   from   hi/d,   a  skin,  a 

hide  ;  alluding  to   the  original 

material.     Ger.  hut. 
Hool  (e),  whole.  P.  533.    A.S.  hal, 

sound  ;  cf.  irholei^ome. 
Hoom,  home,  P.  400,  hoom-coming , 

return  home,  K.  26. 
Hoomly,  plainly,  homelike,  in    a 

manner  suited  to  home,  P.  828. 
Hoost,  a  landlord,  host,  P.  747, 

751.    Lat.  Aos/;es,  one  who  treats 

another  as  a  guest ;  Fr.  hole. 
Hoot  (e),  Hote,  hot,  P.  687,  394. 

A.S.  hdt,  Ger.  heiss. 
Hoote,    hotly,    passionately,     in- 
tensely, P.  97,  K.  879. 
Hoppesteres,  schippen  hoppesterex, 

hostile   or   opposing   ships,    K. 

1159.     See  note. 
Horn,  a  horn,  a  wind  instrument, 

P.  1 16,  K.  820 ;  a  drinking  horn, 

K.  1421.     A.S.  horn,  Lat.  cornn. 
Hers  (s.  and  pi.),  a  horse,  horses, 

P.  74  (pi.)  P.  598,  K.  1634.  A.S. 

hor.s   for   hros,    Ger.    ross,    O.N. 

Hose  (pi.  hosen),  stockings,  P.  456. 
A.S.  hose,  originally  denoting 
covering  for  the  legs;  Dutch, 
hose  =  boots. 

Host,  an  army,  K.  16.  Lat.  hostis, 
an  enemy.  "  The  term  hostis, 
which  primarily  signified  the 
enemy  against  whom  the  expe- 
dition was  to  be  made,  was  com- 
pendiously used  for  the  military 
service  itself.  .  .  .  The  expres- 
sion would  easily  pass  from  mil- 
itary service  to  the  army  on 
duty,  and  thence  to  any  numer- 
ous assemblage."  Wedgwood. 

Hosteller,  an  innkeeper,  a  hostler, 
P.  241.     See  Hoost,  Fr.  hotelier. 

Hostelrie,  a  hotel,  an  inn,  P.  28, 
722.  Fr.  hotel,  Lat.  hospitnUs 
[hospes)  ;  cf.  hospital. 

Hote,  liot.     See  Hoote. 


28o 


GLOSSARIAL  INDEX. 


Hote,  Hoote,  to  be  calleil,  K.  GU'J. 
See  Highte. 

Hounde,  a  dog,  P.  140.  A.S. 
hiuul,  Ger.  hu>id,  Eng.  honiul. 

Houres,  liours,  P.  410.    l^at.  hora. 

Hous,  a  house,  a  religions  estab- 
lishment, a  monastery,  P.  252. 
A.S.  hus,  Ger.  Iiuus,  Lat.  cnsd. 

Housebond,  a  liusband,  P.  400. 
A.S.  hus,  and  hinulu,  one  inhab- 
iting {buiiii,  to  dwell)  will)  the 
idea  of  mastery  ;  hence  a  mar- 
ried man.  Si'C  note.  The  word 
retains  its  original  force  in  /;((.s- 
himdman. 

Househaldere,  a  householder, 
freeholder,  P.  339. 

How,  literally,  in  what  (way)? 
hoai  f/uit  =  how,  P.  50G,  642,  K. 
587.    A  form  analogous  to  ivli//. 

Howie,  to  wail,  K.  1959.  Ger. 
liculrn,  Lat.  ululare ;  cf.  owl. 

Humblesse,  humility,  K.  923.  Fr. 
/nimblfisf!c,  Lat.  Imini/is,  from  Jiit- 
iniis,  the  ground. 

Hunts  (r),  a  hunter,  P.  178,  K. 
1100,  1770.     A.S.  hiiNta. 

Hunteresse,  a,  huntress,  K.  1489. 

Hurte,  to  wound,  K.  250,  258. 
A.S.  hijrt,  wounded;  cf.  /tut-/, 
hurtle. 

Hurtle,  to  push,  to  strike,  K. 
1758.     Frequentative  of  hurf. 

Husst,  liushed,  K.  2123.  An 
onomatopoetic  word ;  cf.  hist, 
whist. 

Hyde,  to  hide,  K.  023.  A.S. 
hi/ dan. 

Hye,  haste ;  in  hi/e,  in  haste,  has- 
tily, K.  2121. 

^lye,  high,  K.  39. 

Hye,  to  hie,  to  hasten,  K.  1410. 
A.S.  hif/an;  cf.  lugcn,  diligent, 
from  hjirje,  mind.  The  word 
would  thus  seem  to  denote  :  (1) 
ment.al  activity ;  (2)  physical 
activity  ;  cf.  </u.ick,  hiive  (by-live). 

Hyhe,  highly,  on  high,  K.  1217. 

Hyndren,  to  hinder,  keep  back, 
K.  277  A.S.  hiiuliinn,  from 
hinder,  back;  Ger.  hindern. 

Hyndreste,  hindermost,  P.  622. 
Sill)],  of  hind. 


Hyne,  a  servant,  a  hind,  P.  608. 

A.S.  hina  (higna),  a  domestic. 
Hynge   (pi.  pr.  of  homjen),  hung, 

P.  077. 
Hyre,  wages,  hire,  P.  538.     A.S. 

hi/r,  Ger.  heuer.   Probably  allied 

to  hijran,  to  obey,  to  hear. 


I,  prefix,  denotes  the  past  parti- 
ciple. 
I-bete,  beaten,  hammered,  K.  121. 

A.S.  beatan. 
I-bore,  borne,  P.  378. 
I-chaped,  fitted   with    plates  of 

metal,  tipped    with   metal,  P. 

300. 
I-clenched,      strengthened      by 

clinehes,  P.  1133. 
I-do    (n),    I-doo,    done,    ended, 

finished,  K.  1076. 
I-falle,  fallen,  P.  25. 
I-fetered,  fettered,  K.  371. 
If,  if;  if  that,  if  so  be  that,  if,  P. 

144,  '399,   K.   257.      A.S.  gif, 

Goth,  yubai. 
I-go    (n),  I-goon,  gone,  P.  286. 

Now  written,  arjo. 
I-knowe,      known,      completely 

known,  P.  423. 
Iliche,  Hike,  alike.    A.S.  qrlicc. 
Hke,  same,  P.  64,  175.     A.S.  i/lc. 
In,  with  reference  to,  according 

to,  K.  2030. 
Inequal,  imequal,  K.  1413. 
Infinite,  Infynyte,  unnumbered, 

unmeasured  ;  hence  tliat  wliich 

cannot  be  numbered  or  meas- 
ured, K.  1909. 
Infortune,     misfortune,     malign 

fortune,  K.  1103. 
Iniquite,   injustice,    wickedness, 

K.  82.  Lat.  iniquilas  =  inequity. 
Inne,  an  inn,  K.  1578.  A.S.  inne. 
Inne    (adv.),    within,    P.  41,  K. 

700. 
Inne,   to    entertain    at   an    inn ; 

inned,  lodged,  K.  1334. 
Inough,  enough,  P.   373.      Ger. 

qeiiuij,  Goth  giinohs,  from  (janan- 

hau,  to  suffice. 
I-pynched,  plaited,  P.  151.     Fr. 


OLOSSARIAL   INDEX. 


281 


pincer,  to    pinch.     It    acquires 

the  meaning  to  plait  from  the 

means  emph)yc(l  ;  cf.  to  ])iiik 
I-proved,  jjroved,  proven,  1'.  4b5. 
Ire,  wrath,  ire.     Lat.  int. 
Iren,  iron,    K.    218,   1134.     A.S. 

iren,  ism,  from  ur,  ore,  denotintf 

also  copper,  Lat.  aes,  Ger.  cistn : 

literally  denol  ing  (lie  metal,  hence 

iron  by  way  of  eminence. 
I-ronne,  run,  l*.  8 ;  arranged,  K. 

1307.     A.S.    rinnan,  yrnan ;   cf. 

errand. 
I-sehadwed,  shaded,  P.  G07.  A.S. 

xnidiriitn,  to  shade. 
I-schave,  shaven,  P.  090.     A.S. 

sc<tl(in. 
I-schrive,  shriven,  confessed,  P. 

22fj.      A  S.    scrijini,   to   ordain, 

enjoin. 
I-shorn,  shorn,  sheared,  P.  589. 

A.S.  sr.erun. 
I-slawe,  slain,   K.  85      A.S.  sla- 

(jan,  to  slay  :  literally,  to  strike  ; 

cf.  Ger.  schiae/en,  to  beat ;  Eng. 

shtnijhter. 
I-stored,  stocked,  stored,  P.  609. 
I-styked,  pierced,  stuck,  K.  707. 

A.S.  sticcicui,  from  sfice,  a  stab ; 

cf.  a  "stitch  in  the  back." 
I-taught,  taught,   P.   127.     A.S. 

tueain. 
I-write  (n),  written,  P.  161.   A.S. 

ivritiin. 
I-wrye,  covered,  K.  2046.     A.S. 

wrilian,  to  cover. 


Jaious,  jealous,  K.  471.  Lat. 
zclus,  Fr.  jaloiix. 

Jangler,  .1  great  talker,  a  babbler, 
P.  500.     Fr.  jonqlcr,  to  lie,  jest. 

Jape,  a  trick,  P.  705.  O.Fr.  rjaher ; 
cf.  (pd). 

Jape,  to  deceive,  to  befool,  K. 
871.     See  By-jape. 

Jelousye,  jealousy,  K.  441.  Fr. 
jalousie,  Lat.  zetus. 

Jewels,  jewels,  K.  2087.  Fr. 
joHel,jo)/nH,  Jjat  f/audinin  Hence 
articles  of  dress  worn  to  indi- 
cate joy. 


Jolitee,  gayety,  P.  680.  From 
Jolli/,  Fr.Joli;  allied  to  A.S.  qui, 
O.E.f/ule. 

Journee,  a  day's  journey,  K. 
18S0.  Fr. /«/(/■/( e'e,  Lat.  dinnius; 
hence,  by  synecdoche,  denoting 
extended  travel. 

Jousten,  to  joust,  to  engage  in  a 
tournament,  K.  1628.  F v.  j ous- 
ter, Yjng.  jostle. 

Joy  (e),  joy,  K.  170,  1015.  Fr. 
joie,  Lat.  f/audium. 

Jugge,  a  judge,  P.  814,  K.  854. 
Fr.  jiye,  Lat.  judex. 

Juggement,  judgment,  P.  778. 
Fr.  jngement,  Lat.  judicumentum. 

Juste,  to  joust,  P.  90.  See  Jous- 
ten, 

Justes,  a  tournament,  K.  1862. 

Justice,  a  judge,  P.  814.  Lat. 
jus  ;  cf .  jicst,  jury,  adjudicate. 

Juwyse,  judgment,  condemna- 
tion, K.  881.  Fr.  jnise,  Lat. 
judicium. 

K. 

Kage,  a  cage,  K.  436.  Fr.  ror/e, 
Lat.  raven,  an  enclosure  for  ani- 
mals, a  den. 

Kaytyves,  captives,  caitiffs,  K. 
859.    Lat.  captivus.    See  Caytif. 

Keep  (e),  care,  attention,  to  take, 
keep,  to  take  care,  to  observe, 
P.  398,  K.  531. 

Keepe,  Kepe  (pr.  kepte,  p.p.  kep), 
to  care  for,  to  observe,  lo  guard, 
P.  130,  276,  852.  /  hpe  m,t,  I 
care  not,  K.  1380,  2102.  A.S. 
cepan. 

Kembe  (p.p.  kemhd),  to  comb,  K. 
1285.  A.S.ceinhan,  Ger. kanunen. 

Kempe,  coarse,  shaggy,  K.  1276. 
See  jiote. 

Kene,  sharp,  P.  104.  A.S.  cene, 
Ger.  luliii. 

Kervere,  a  carver,  sculptor,  K. 
1041.     A.S.  ceorfnn,  to  cut. 

Kervyng,  carving,  sculptured  or- 
naments, K. 1057. 

Keverchef,  a  kerchief,  P.  458. 
Fr.  coiivrir,  to  cover,  chef,  the 
head. 


282 


GLOSSABIAL   INDEX. 


Knarre,  a  knot,  hence  a  burly 

t'ello-.v,  P.  549.     See  note.     • 
Knarry,   knotty,  full    of   guars, 

K.  1119.     Ger.  knorre. 
Knave,  a  servant,  K.  1870.    A.S. 

cnii/iit,  Ger.  knabe,  a  boy. 
Kne,  knee,   P.  391.     A.S.  meow, 

Ger.  knie,  Lat.  r/enu,  Gr.  yovv. 
Knight,  a  knight,    P.  42.     A.S. 

<:iii/it,  Ger.  knecht;   (1)  a  young 

man;    (2)  a  servant;     (3)   the 

servant  of  a  king  ;  (4)  a  person 

engaged  in  military  service. 
Knighthede,      knighthood,      K. 

i'.i;!l. 
Knobbes,  hard    swellings,    pim- 
ples, P.  633.  A.S.  cnaep,  a  knop, 

a  button. 
Knotty,  knotty,  K.    1119.     A.S. 

'■nalt,  from  onjtlan,  to  knit,  tie, 

knot. 
Knowe,  pp.  known,  K.  345. 
Knyf,  pi.  kiu/fes,  a  knife,  P.  233, 

K.  1141.     A.S.  ciiif,  Fr.  canif; 

cf.  nip. 
Knytte,   to  knit,  K.    270.     A.S. 

<-iii/tmi,  to  knit  ;  cf.  fo  knot,  to  iirt. 
Kouthe,    known,     P.    14.      See 

Couthe. 
Kynde,  nature,  K.  543, 1593.   See 

note.     A.S.  cijnd,  from  ceiinun, 

to  beget. 
Kynde,    good-natured,    kind,  P. 

047. 
Kyng,  a  king,  K.  691.     See  note. 

A.S.    ci/niii(/,    from    cunnan,    to 

know,    to   be   able,   cennaii,    to 

beget.     Ger.  konig. 
Kynled,   kindled,  'K.   1437  ;    cf. 

(icrcnih're,  allied  to  annun. 
Kynrede,  kindred,  K.  428.     A.S. 

(•jpi-rapclen,  ap\,  from  euiman,  to 

know ;    racden,    denotes    st.ate, 

&c. ;  cf.  hatred. 
Kyte,  a  kyte,  a  bird  of  prey,  K. 

321.     A.S.  qjta,  W.  cud. 


Jjaas,   a  belt,    P.    392.     Fr.  lacs, 

Lat.  hupicus. 
Lace,  Las,  a  lace,  net,  snare,  K. 

959,  1093.    Lat.  Ia<pt<-us,  a  snare  ; 


hence  :     (1)    a   net,    (2)   what 
binds  or  fastens;    (3)  a  fabric 
resembling  a  net ;  cf.  shoe-lace, 
lasso. 
Lacerte,  a  muscle,  K.  1895.     Lat. 

laceiius,  a  lizard. 
Lad   (p.p.    ladde),    led,    brought, 
K.  588,  1762. 

Lady  (e),  (gen.  lad//),  lady,  mis- 
tress, K.  431 ;  lady's,  P.  88.  A.S. 
hiaef-diye,  usually  derived  from 
hlaf,  loaf,  and  iveardicje,  warden  ; 
but  this  derivation  seems  doubt- 
ful. 

Lafte  (pi.  lafien,  pr.  of  leve,  p.p. 
/('//),  left,  ceased,  P.  492,  K.  34, 
(p.p.)  K.  1158.     A.S.  laefan. 

Lakke,  to  lack,  P.  756,  K.  1422; 
cf.  stuck. 

Langage,  language,  fair  langage, 
flattery,  1'.  211. 

Lappa,  a  lap,  P.  686.  A.S.  lappa, 
a  lap,  border,  hem,  piece, —  the 
original  meaning  is  now  ex- 
pressed hy  flap  ;  cf  lapel,  lapet, 
Jiap,  flahhij. 

Large,  freedom,  at  thi  large  =  at 
large,  free,  K.  425,  434 ;  at  his 
large,  K.  469. 

Large,  free,  coarse,  P.  734 ;  cf. 
gross. 

Largely,  fully,  easily,  K.  1050. 
1080;  cf.  Lat.  large. 

Las.     See  Lace. 

Lasyng,  lacing,  fastening  with 
laces,  K.  1646.     See  Lace. 

Lat  (imperative),  let,  P.  188; /m 
se,  let  us  see,  P.  831,  K.  33 ;  la- 
he,  let  it  be,  cease,  P.  840. 

Late,  lately,  late  ycome,  lately  ar- 
rived, P.  77  ;  late  ischave,  lately 
shaven,  P.  690. 

Latoun,  a  mixed  metal  resem- 
bling brass,  P.  699.     Fr.  laiton 

Launde,  a  lawn,  an  open  cleared 
space,  K.  833;  see  note.  W. 
Han,  a  clear  space. 

Laurer,  a  laurel,  K.  169.  Fr. 
laitrii-r,  Lat.  laurus. 

Lawe,  a  law,  P.  577.  From  root 
lag :  lience  =  what  is  laid  down 
or  fixed  ;  cf.  Lat.  lex  {legs) 

Laxatif,  a  laxative,  a  piirge,   R. 


GLOSSARIAL  INDEX. 


283 


1 898.      Lat.     laxarc ;    cf.    lack, 

slack. 
Lay,  pr.  of  Lie,  q.v. 
Laynere,  a  thong,  K.  1646.     Fr. 

luiiiere;  cf.  lanijard. 
Lazar,   Lazer,   a   leper,    P.    242, 

2lo.     A  corruption  of  Lazarus. 
Leche-erai't,    medical     skill,    K. 

iy87.     A.S.  leclie,  a  physician. 
Leede,  a  caldron,  P.  202.    Irish, 

luchil,  a  kettle. 
Leaf  (pi.  lecves,  leves),  a  leaf,  K. 

980.     Ger.  lauh.  ■ 
Leaf,  dear,  pleasant,  K.  979.  A.S. 

ItoJ]  from  lufiuii,  to  love  ;  Eng. 

Ucf,  "  Ijc  him  loth  or  leef " 
Laan,   Lane,    to   give,    lend,    K. 

2224.     A.S.  lacnan,  Ger.  leihen  ; 

cf.  loan. 
Leap  (pr.  of /««;*),  leaped,  K.  1829. 

A.S.  hlmjKin,  pr.  hleoii. 
Leasyng,    loss,    losing,    K.    849. 

A.S.  leosaii. 
Leat  (pr.  of  let),  let,  P.  128,  175 

(v.  anx.) ;   leet  cri/e,  caused  to 

be  cried,  K.  1873  ;  leet  bnpir/e, 

caused  to  be  brouglit,  K  2081  ; 

leet   coniaiiiide,   c(jmmanded,   K. 

2007.     A.S.  laetan,  pr.  let,  p.p. 

laeten. 
Laat,  left,  let   be,   P.  508.     See 

note 
Laeva,  departure,   K.   359 ;  used 

only  in  "  to  take  leave."     A.S. 

leaf,  lefan,  to  permit,  with  /«;■«», 

to  go,  understood. 
Laeva  (def.  of  leef),  dear,  K.  278. 
Leave,  to  believe,  K.  2230      A.S. 

geleiifan  ;  Ger.  (/lanbe)i. 
Laf  (imperative),  leave,  K.  756. 
Lena,  to  lend,  P.  611.     A.S.  lae- 

'Kin,  Ger.  lehnen. 
Lane,   lean,   poor,   P.    287,   591. 

A.S.    hlaene,    from    hlinian,    to 

bend,  hence  =  too  poor  to  stand 

erect. 
Langer  (a),  longer,   P.  330,  821. 

A.S.   laiu/,    comp.    lengra,  supl. 

lenqest. 
Lapart,  a  leopard,  K.  1328. 
Larne   (p.p.  lernede),  to  learn,  P. 

308,  575.     A.S.  komlan. 
Lese,  to  lose,  K.  357.    A.S.  leosan, 


pr.  leas,  p.p.  loren ;  cf.  forlorn, 
lorn. 

Lessoun,  lesson,  a  passage  of 
scripture  read  in  divine  service, 
P.  709.  Fr.  le<;on,  Lat.  lectio, 
from  legeie. 

Leste,  pleasure,  delight,  P.  132. 
A.S.  li/st,  lust. 

Lasta,  Liste,  Lust  (a),  (imper- 
sonal with  ace),  please,  P.  583, 
750,  K.  493,  495  ;  vie  liste  =  it 
pleases  me  ;  him  luste  =  it 
pleased  him  ;  us  leste  =  it 
pleased  us.  A.S.  lystan,  to 
please,  to  be  pleased. 

Last  (a),  least,  K.  203;  contr. 
for  littlest. 

Lesynges,  lies,  leasing,  K.  1069. 
A.S.  leasunt/,  Goth  laus,  empty, 
vain.     Allied  to  less,  loose,  lose. 

Lete,  Letta,  to  leave,  K.  465,  see 
note ;  letten  of,  refrain  from,  leave 
off.  A.S.  of-laetan,  K.459;  cf.  late 

Letta,  to  hinder,  K.  31,  1034. 
This  word  and  the  preceding 
are  from  the  same  root,  —  late ; 
in  one  case  the  slow-moving 
body  is  hfl ;  in  the  other  it 
hinders  one  that  would  other- 
wise go  faster. 

Latuaries,  electuaries,  P.  426 ; 
medicines  to  be  licked  up. 

Lave,  leave,  permission,  K.  206. 

Lever  (comp.  o{  lief),  rather,  Jam 
was  lever  have,  he  would  rather 
have,  P.  293. 

Lewed,  Lewd,  unlearned,  igno- 
rant, P.  502;  see  note.  A.S. 
leode,  people,  Ger.  leute ;  cf.  /«%, 
lay. 

Leye  (p.  leyde,  p.p.  leyd),  to  lay,  P. 
81  ;  leye-to,  take  hold  of,  begin, 
P.  841.     A.S.  to-lecgan. 

Leysar,  leisure,  K.  330.  Fr.  loisir, 
Lat.  licere. 

Licentiat,  one  licensed  to  liear 
confession  and  grant  absolu- 
tion, P.  220.     Lat.  liccntiatus. 

Liche-waka,  the  watch  (wake) 
held  over  a  corpse,  K.  2100. 
A.S.  lie,  Ger.  leich,  a  body. 

Licour,  liquor,  P.  8.  Lat.  liquor, 
li(jaere,  to  flow. 


284 


OLOSSABIAL   INDEX. 


Lie  (pr.   lay,  p.p.   lain),  to  lie,   P. 

20.     A.S.    licijan,  pr.    laey,  p.ji. 

leijen.     See  Ligge. 
Lif,'  Lyf,  lite,  K.  1918.     A.S.  ///, 

from  libban,  allied  to  lie,  body. 
Ligge,  to  lie,    K.   1347;    H'jgjjnf,, 

lying,  K.  153.     A.S.  lic/jan,  lig- 

(jan. 
Lighte,  briglit,  pleasant,  K.  925. 

A.S.  Hid,   CJcr.  Icicld,  Lat.  lax, 

hicert',  to  shine. 
Lik,  lil<u  to,  K.  443.     From  A.S. 

lie,  a  body. 
Like  (impers.),  to  please,  if  ijou 

li/ctlh  =  if  it  please  you,  P.  777  ; 

Mm  liki'de  =  it  pleased  liim,   K. 

1234. 
Liknesse,   similar    circumstances 

(coll.  noun),  K.  I'.l84. 
Lippe,    lip,    P.    loo.     A.S.   Hjijxi, 

Lat.  labiiiiii;  cf.  l(i[i,Jl(ip,  — the 

loose  part. 
Lipsede,    lisped,   P.    2G4.      A.S. 

wlisjiidv,  to  stammer;  Ger.  lis- 

peln. 
Liste.     See  Leste. 
Listes,  Lystes,  lists,  a  space  en- 
closed for  combats,  P.   G3,  K. 

1231,  1687  ;  combats  in  the  lists, 

K.    994.      Lat.    licium,    a   rojjc 

whicli  marked  the  enclosure. 
Litarge,     litharge,    protoxide    of 

lead,  P.  629. 
Lite  (1),  little,  P.  438;  morhe  and 

lite  =  great  and  small ;  i.e.  high 

and  low,  P.  494. 
Lite  (adv.),  little  while,  K  47G. 
Lith,  lieth,  lies,  K.  360. 
Live  (dat.  of  ///),  on  iijvc,  in  life, 

alive,  K.  1840. 
Lodemenage,   pilotage,    P.    403. 

A.S.  laedan,  to  guide,  and  Fr. 

m€nage  ;  cf .  loadstar,  loadstone. 
Loken,  to  see,  look,  K.  925.     A.S. 

lorian. 
Lokkes,  locks  of  hair,  curls,  P. 

81.    A.S. li/eean,  to  pluck,  hence 

loco,  a  handful. 
Lokyng,  sight,  K.  1313. 
Lond,  land,  P.  14.     A.S.  land. 
Longe  (n),  to  long  for,  to  desire, 

P.  12.     A.S.  IdiKjian  (from  lain/), 

to  stretch  the  mind  after. 


Longe   (n),  to  belong,  K.    1420; 

cf.  Ger.  belangen. 
Longe  (adv.),  for  a  long  time,  P. 

286. 
Longes,  the  lungs,  K.  1894.    A.S. 

liuiiie. 
Loode,  a   load     K.    2060.     A.S. 

hladan,  to  load. 
Loode-sterre,     a     loadstar,    the 

north  star,  K.  1201.  A.S.  laedan, 

to  lead  ;  steorra,  from  steoran,  to 

steer. 
Lord,  sir,  lor«'.,  —  a  title  of  honor, 

P.  65.     See  note  on  P.  601. 
Lordschipe,  the  authority  or  rank 

of  lord,  K.   969.      A.S.  Idajord- 

scijie. 
Lordynges,  lordlings,  sirs,  P.  761. 

fiKj  is  the  A.S.  diminutive  and 

patronymic  termination. 
Lore,  doctrine,  learning,  P.   527. 

A.S.  lar. 
Los,  loss,  K.  1685.     A.S.  los. 
Losten  (pi.  pr.  of  kese),  lost. 
Loth,    disagreeable,    unpleasant, 

P.  486,  K.  979.     A.S.  lath,-  cf. 

lunflie. 
Love,  lover,  K.  1448 :  a  common 

synecdoche. 
Love-daye,  days  for  arbitration, 

law-days,  P.  258. 
Levy  ere,  lover,  P.  80 :  ?/  from  i. 

A.S.  liifian,  to  love. 
Lowde,  '  loudly,    P.    714.     A.S. 

hliule,  Ger.  laid. 
Lowe  (adj.  and  adv.),  low,  K.  253 ; 

O.E.  lowe,  law,  larjh,  which  con- 
nects with  A.S.  licgan,  to  lie; 

Ger.  lier/en. 
Luce,  a  pike,  P.  350. 
Lust,  pleasure,  P.   192,  K.  392. 

A.S.  liL^f. 
Lust  (e),  pleased,  pleaseth,  may 

please,  P.  102,  K.  493,  495. 
Lusty,  vigorous,  handsome,  pleas- 
ant,   ardent,    P.    80,  K.   1253, 

1258. 
Lustynesse,  pleasure,  what  occa- 
sions pleasure,  K.  1081.  , 
Lye,  destruction,  K.  2157.     A.S. 

le(/,  hieq.  \ 

Lye,  to  lie,  P.  659      A.S.  leorian, 

Goth,  liuyan,  Gci".  I'mjen. 


OLOSSAEIAL   INDEX. 


285 


Lyf,  life,   P.  71.     A.S.  lif,  from 

A.S.  libban,  Ger.  lehm. 
Lyfly,  life-like,  K.  l^^i'J  ;  cf.  liveiji, 

=  quick  ;  i.e.  livinji:. 
Lymes,  limbs,  K.  1277.   AS.  /////. 
Lymytour,  a  friar  authorized  to 

ask  alms  witliiu  certaiu  limits, 

r.  209. 
Lynage,  Lyne,  lineage,  line  of 

descent,  K.  252,  093.     Fr.  %- 

niKjc,  Lat.  lineu,  a  line. 
Lynd,  a   linden-tree,  bass  wood, 

K.  2064.     A.S.  II nd. 
Lystes.     Sec  Listes. 
Lyte,  little,  K.  3o5;  not,  K.  86-5; 

cf.  Lat.  minus,  mlnlint.    A.S.  hjt, 

lytd. 
Lyve.     See  Live. 
Lyvere,  livery,  P.  363.  See  note. 
Lyves,  alive,  living-,  K.  1537  ;  a 

gen.  used  adverbially. 


M. 

Maad,  Mad,  p.p.  made,  P.  394, 
668,  K.  747,  mah'd. 

Maat,  dejected,  K.  97.  Fr.  mat, 
Ger.  mutt,  feel)le ;  cf.  clieck- 
mate  =  shall  mat ;  i.e.  the  king  is 
dead. 

Mace,  a  club,  K.  1266,  1701.  Fr. 
masse. 

Mad,  stricken  out  of  one's  senses, 
insane,  K.  1484.  A.S.  ge-mued, 
troubled  in  mind ;  cf.  mod,  mind. 

Madame,  madam,  P.  121.  Fr. 
from  Lat.  mca  domlna. 

Maist,  mayest,  K.  385. 

Maister,  Mayster  (pi.  maij.stres), 
master,  chief  or  head  (of  a  re- 
ligious house),  P.  261,  576.  Lat. 
maqlstei'  from  mai/nus,  as  minis- 
ter from  minus. 

Maister  (adj.),  principal,  maister 
strecte,  the  main  street,  K.  2044. 

Maistow,  mayest  thou,  K.  378. 

Maistrie,  skill,  superiority,  mas- 
tertj  ;  for  the  maistrie  =  above 
all  others,  P.  165. 

Make,  a  mate,  K.  1698.  A.S. 
maca,  a  mate,  one  of  the  same 
make;  cf.  match. 


Make,  to  write    pui  tr  > ,   P.  325; 

cf.  (ir    TTcinv. 
'Maked  (p.]!.)    made,  K.  1666. 
Maladye,   ma'  idy,   I'.  419.     Lat. 

iiiiile-ti/i/iis,  ,11  liUc'il. 
Male,    a    hag,    portmanteau,   P. 

694.     Fr.  -ma/le;  cf.  mail,  Gael. 

inula,  a  bag. 
Manace,  a    menace,    tlueat,   K. 

1145.     LiSit.  ininaclae. 
Manasyng,  threatening,  K.  1177. 
Mancioun,  a  mansion,  K.  1116. 

Lat.   munslo,  from   manere;    cf. 

manse. 
Maner  (e),  sort,  kind,   manner, 

P.  71,  140,  858,  K.  1017  ;  muner 

ivl(/ht  =  sort  of  person  ;  Fr.  ma- 

niere,   Lat.   maitus :   literally,   a 

handling,  the  way  in  which  a 

matter  is  handled. 
Manhede,  manhood,  P.  756. 
Mankynd,  mankind,  the  family 

(im)    of    man,  K.   449.      A.S. 

man-cyn. 
Manly,      vigorous,       masculine, 

brave,  P.  167,  K.  129 ;  mun-Uke. 
Mantel,  a  mantle,  P.  378.     A.S. 

mentfil,  Lat.  mante/ain.  Literally 

a    hand-cloth  ;  hence  a  garment 

covering  the  hands. 
Mantelet,    a    short    mantle,    K. 

1305. 
Manye,    mania,    K.     517.     Lat. 

mania. 
Many  oon,  many  a  one,  P.  317  ; 

many  a,  P.  168.     See  note. 
Marbel,  marble,    K.    1035.     Fr. 

murhre,  Lat.  marmor. 
Marchaunt,  a  merchant,  P.  270. 

Fr.    murchunt,   Lat.    mercari,  to 

trade. 
Marche,  March  (the  month),  P.  2. 

From  3 furs. 
Mariage,  marriage,  P.  212.     Fr. 

murler,  Lat.  mas,  a  male. 
Marschal,   marshal,    one    whose 

duty    it    is   to    assign    places ; 

marschal  in  an  halle,  marshal  of 

the  hall,  P.  752.  O.Ger.  marah- 

scalc  (=  horse  servant),  master 

of  the  horse ;  cf.  mai-e. 
Martirdam,  martyrdom,  death  by 

torture,  K.  602. 


286 


GLOSS ARIAL  INDEX. 


Martyr,  a  martyr,  P.  770.    Liter- 
ally, a  witness. 
Martyre,  to  torture,  K.  704. 
Mary-bones,    marrow-Loues,    P. 

P)HO.     A  S.  iiicurg. 
Matere,     Mateere,     matter,    P. 

727,  K.  401.     Lat.  materia. 
Matrimoyn,  matrimony,  K.  2237. 
Lat.  inii/runiininin,  mother-hood. 
Maiigre,  Mawgre,  in  spite  of,  K. 
311,   740,    1760.      Fr.    nutl  gre, 
Lat.  nude  (/rnlum. 
Maunciple,  an  officer  who    had 
the  charge  of  purchasing  vict- 
uals for  an  Inn  of  Court,  P.  544. 
Lat.  mancejin,  the  superintend- 
ent of  a  bake-iiouse,  —  a  baker. 
May,  can,  to  be  able,  P.  230,  K. 
415,   066.      A.S.   ma.jnn,    to  be 
able ;    cf .    mli/ht,   nii(/hfi/ ;    also 
Lat.  nidgnus. 
Mayde,  maid,   P.  69 ;    see  note. 
A.S.  rmiec/dh,  Ger.  matjd,  Goth. 
iiKKjus,  a  boy ;  cf.  Gael.  mac. 
Maydenhode,     maidenhood,    K. 

1471. 
Mayne,  servants,  K.  400.     O.Fr. 

mesne'i',  Lat.  minores  natn. 
Maynteyne,  to  persist  in,  main- 
tain,   K.    020.      Fr.    maintenir, 
Lat.  manu-tenere. 
Made,   a  meadow,   mead,   P.  89. 
A.S    inaed,  originally  wet  land, 
that  being  especially  adapted  to 
grass  ;  cf.  mad,  Lat.  madeo. 
Medle,  motley,  a  mixed  color,  P. 
328.     O.Fr.  mrdler,  Fr.  meler,  to 
mix  ;  cf.  meddle. 
Meede,   reward,    meed,    P.    770 

A.S.  med,  hire,  Ger.  iniethe. 
Mete    (adv  ),    becomingly,    suit- 
ably, K.  1433.     A.S.  )jemet;  cf. 
convenietit. 
Make,  meek,  P.  09      Goth,  innks, 

mild,  soft. 
Mallera,  a  miller,  P.  542 ;  cf.  meal. 
Memorye,  honor,  honorable  men- 
tion,  K.    1048      Lat.   mrmorare, 
to  make  honorable  mention  ;  cf. 
commeviornte. 
Men,  one,  P.   149,  232,  K.   558. 
An  indefinite  pronoun ;  cf.  Ger. 
man.  Fr.  on. 


Meneioun,  mention  ,  K.  1077.  Fr. 

ineiition,  Lat.  mentio,  mens. 
Mane  (pr.  mente),  to  intend,  wish, 

say,  mean,  P.  793,  K.  815.  A.S. 

maenun,  to  tell,  to  have  in  mind  ; 

cf.  Lat.  mens. 
Marcenarie,   a   hireling,    P.  514. 

Lat.  merces,  wages. 
Mercy,   pity,    K.    60.     Fr.    merci, 

Lat.  niiseiicurdia. 
Mare,  a  mare,  P.  541.  A.S.  murre. 
Merle,  Mery  (e),  Murye,  mirth- 
ful, joyful,  P.  208,  757,  K.  641. 

A.S    mijri(/,  from  nu/r/<th. 
Meriely,    pleasantly,  mirtiifuUy, 

P.  714. 
Meschaunce,     misfortune,     mis- 
chance, K. 1151. 
Mescheef,  Maschief,  misfortune, 

P.  493,   K.   468.      Fr.    meschef, 

mliiKS-chef,  what  turns  out  ill. 
Master,  a  trade,  occupation,  P. 

613;  see  note  ;  hence  also  kind  : 

mester  men,  sort  of  men,  K.  852. 
Mesurable,  moderate,  P.  435.  Fr. 

ineaure,  lAXt.  mcliri. 
Mete,  food,    P.   127,    136.     A.S. 

mete,  food,  Goth.  mat.'!. 
Mete,  fit,    K.    773.     A.S.   (/emef, 

mctan,    to    meet ;  cf.  convenient, 

from  con-venire ;  also  "help  meet 

for  him." 
Mate,    to    meet,    K.    666.      A.S. 

metan,  to  meet,  7not,  an  assem- 

biy. 
Meth,    mead,    a   drink   made   of 

honey,    K.    1421.      A.S.    mcdu, 

Goth,  milifh,  honey. 
Mewe,  a  cooj),  an  enclo.sure,  P. 

349.   Literally  a  cage  for  hawks 

while  mewing  or  moulting  ( Lat. 

miilare),   hence,  as  a  verb,    to 

mew  =  to  confine. 
Might,   power,    victory,  K.    998. 

A.S.  mafia)),  to  be  able. 
Might  (pr.  of  mail),   could,    was 

able,  P.  632. 
Mighty,  strong,  large,  P.  108,  K. 

505.     A.S    mihtifi,  Ger.  mdc.htig. 
Miracle,    a    wonder,    wonderful 

deed,  K.   930.     Lat.  minicufum, 

from  miriiri,  to  wonder  at. 
Mirthe,     Myrtha,     amusement, 


GLOSSABIAL   INDEX. 


287 


pleasure,    P.  7G6 ;   a    mirihe,    a 
game,  P.  7G7.     A.S.  murth. 
Misbede   (p.p.  mlsbodeii),  to   mal- 
treat, insult,  K.  51.     A.S.  mis- 

Mo  (o),  more,  P.  101,  544.     A.S. 

ma  ;  et'.  Lat.  ma-gnus,  ma-jor. 
Moche,  mucli,  P.  liU  ;  Jul' vmrhe, 

very  much,  P.  132.    A.S.  //(//r,  /. 
Mochel,  ti;reatly,    mueli,   P.  258, 

K.    VM'l.     A.iS.    mtjcd,  Scotch, 

niicklc. 
Moevere,    a    mover,    cause,    K. 

2129.     Lat.  inovere. 
Mone,  moon,  P.  403.     A.S.  mona, 

Ger.    mond,     Goth,    mena,     Gr. 

Moneth  (pi.  montlies),  a  month,  P. 

'J2,    704.     The    space   of   time 

measured    by  a  revolution   of 

tiie   moon.     A.S.   monath,  Ger. 

monat,  Fr.  riiois. 
Moneye,   money,    P.    703.      See 

note. 
Monk,  a  monk,  P.  165  ;  literally 

one   who   dwells  alone.      Lat. 

monachus. 
Mood,  anger,  K.  902.     A.S.  mod, 

mind,   passion;    of.    Gr.   dvjio^, 

also  moody. 
Moone,  moan,    lamentation,    K. 

508.     A.S.  maenan. 
Moot  (pi.  mole,  pr.  vioste,  muste), 

may,  must,   ought,  P.  232,  732, 

735,  742.     A.S.  pres.  sing.  1,  8, 

mot ;  2,  most:  pi.  moton,  pr.  nioste. 
Moral,  correct  in  manner,  P.  307. 

Lat.  mos. 
More,  greater  (in  rank),  lesse  and 

more,  high  and  low,  K.  898.  See 

note. 
More,   delay,    K.   1945.     Scotch, 

with  outi/n  mar,  Bruce  iii.  793. 
Mormal,  a   cancer,  P.   38(J.     Fr. 

mort-maJ. 
Morne-milk,   morning   milk,    P. 

358. 
Morsel,  a  bit,  P.  128.  Lat.  morsus, 

from  mordere,  to  bite  ;  cf.  bit. 
Mortal,  deadly,  fatal,  occasioning 

great  loss  of  Hfe,  P.  61,  K.  732 ; 

ef.  mortal  enemy.     Lat.  mortalis, 

mors. 


Morthre,  murder,  K.   398.     A.S. 

mortlier,   morth,   death  ;  cf.    Lat. 

mois. 
Mortreux,   a   kind   of    broth   or 

soup,    iiiortrems,    P.    384.      So 

named  from  a  mortar  in  whicli 

the  ingredients  were  brayed. 
Morwe,  morrow,  morning,  P.  334. 

A.S.  inon/en  ;  di.  good  laorrow. 
Morwenynge,  morning,  K.  204  ; 

lengtliened  form  of  morwe. 
Mosel,  a  muzzle,  K.  1293.     Fr. 

imiseau. 
Most  (e),  greatest,  K.  37,  1340; 

a  leader,  P.  561.     A.S.  macst. 
Mot  (e).     See  Moot. 
Motteleye,  motley,  stuff  of  mixed 

colors,  1^.  271 ;    see   medle,  W. 

innd-liw. 
Mountaunce,    amount,    K.    712. 

Fr.  monter,  to  go  up  ;  Lat.  mons, 

a  mountain. 
Mowe,   can.    be   able,   K.    2141. 

A.S.  mngan. 
Mows,  a  mouse,  K.  403.      A.S. 

vius,    pi.    mijs,    Lat.    mus,    Ger. 

mans,  Gr.  (ivi;. 
Murmure,  murmuring,  K.  1601. 

A   representation   of  an   indis- 
tinct sound  ;  cf.  Gr.  ISupfiapoc;. 
Murtheryng,  murdering,  K.  1143. 

A.S.  morlh,  Lat.  nwrs. 
Murye,    merry,    K.    528.      A.S. 

injirig. 
Myie,  a  mile,  K.  646.     A.S.  mil, 

Lat.  milk,  a  thousand  (paces). 
Myn  (gen.  of  /),  of  me,  P.  782, 

K.  423. 
Mynde,  mind,  remembrance,  K. 

544,    1048;    cf.    remind.      A.S. 

mi/iiaii.  to  remember. 
Mynour,  a  miner,  K.  1607.    Gael. 

iiii'iiin,  ore,  a  mine. 
Mynstralcye,  minstrelsy,  K.  1339. 

O.Fr.    menestrel,    a    workman; 

Lat.  ministerium,  service. 
Myre,  mire,  land  so  wet  as  to  be 

impassable,   P.   508 ;    cf.   moor, 

morass.     Ger.  moor,  A.S.  mere,  a 

pool,  lake. 
Myrour,  a  mirror,  K.  541.     Fr. 

miroir,  Lat.  mirari,  to  view^  to 

admire. 


288 


OLOSSARIAL   INDEX. 


Myscarie,  to  misbehave,  do  amiss, 
P.  518  ;  mis,  negative,  carry,  to 
demean  one's  self ;  of.  deport- 
meiil. 

Myselven,  myself,  for  myself,  P. 
803.  Properly  used  only  in  the 
olilique  cases. 

Myshappe,  to  go  ill  with,  to  mis- 
hap, K.  788.    From  ;///.s  and  hap. 

Myster,  mode  of  life,  occupation 
(neeil),  K.  482.  O.Fr.  nivstier, 
from  Lat.  ministarium;  Fr.  metier. 

Myte,  a  mite,  K.  700.  A.S.  mile, 
any  thing  small ;  cf.  mute. 

N. 

Nacioun,  a  nation,  P.  53.     Lat. 

iiaiio,  from  iiasci,  to  be  born  ; 

cf.    A.S.    kin,   from    cennan,   to 

beget. 
Naker,  a  kettle-drum,  K.  1653. 
Nam  =  nc  am,  am  not,  K.  204. 
Namely,  Namelyche,  esjiecially, 

above   all,    K.   410,  817,  1851, 

2186.     A.S.  ncmlir. 
Narwe,    narrow,    close-shut,    P. 

625.     A.S.  neuiwa,  from    iieah, 

near. 
Nas  =  ne  was,  was  not,   P.  251, 

550 ;  nas  not,  was  not,  1'.  428. 
Nat,  not,  P.  177,  366.     A.S.  na- 

ivikt,  nat. 
Nath  =  ne  hath,  hath  not,  K.  65. 
Natheles,  nevertheless,  none  the 

less,  P.  35,  K    974.     A.S.  na- 

the-less ;  cf.  Lat.  nihilominus. 
Ne,  not,  P.  70;  nor,  P.  179;  ne 

.  .  .  ne,  neither  .  .  .  nor  ;   ne  .  .  . 

hut,  only,  P.  120. 
Needs,    needful,    P.    304.     A.S. 

neade,  Ger.  noth. 
Needes,    Nedes,    of    necessity, 

m:rils,  K.  311,  2170.  A.S.  nmdes, 

gen.  of  nead. 
Needes-cost,  necessarily,  K.  619. 

See  note. 
Needeth  (impers.),  needs  ;    what 

needeth,  what  is  the  need  of,  P. 

849.     A.S.  neadian,  to  compel : 

ne-ead,  not-happiness. 
Neer,  near,   K.  581 ;  nearer,  fer 

ne  neer,  more  or  less,  K.  992. 


Neet,  cattle,  P.  597-  A.S.  ni/t, 
neat,  a  beast ;  by  way  of  emi- 
nence, cattle ;  cf.  neat  leather. 

Neigh,  Neyh,  nigh,  wel  neyh, 
nearly,  K.  472 ;  as  neigh  as,  as 
close  as,  P.  588.     A.S.  neah. 

Neighebour,  a  neighbor,  P.  535. 
A.S.  neah  (/ehur,  near-dweller. 

Nekke,  neck,  P.  238,  K.  360.  A.S. 
hiiecca. 

Ner,  Nerre,  Neer,  nearer,  P. 
838,  K.  110,992;  comp.  of  near. 

Nercotykes,  narcotics,  K.  614. 

Nere  =  ne  ivere,  were  not,  K.  17. 

Newe,  recently,  newly,  P.  365, 
428.  A.S.  niwe,  Ger.  neu,  Lat. 
noous,  Fr.  neuf,  Gr.  veoq. 

Nexte,  nearest,  K.  555.  Supl.  of 
near;  A.S.  neah;  supl.  nyhst, 
next. 

Night,  a  night,  nights,  P.  23. 
A.S.  luht,  Goth,  nahts,  Ger. 
nachi,  Lat.  r.o.r,  Gr.  vv^,  W.  nns. 

Nightertale,  night-time,  P.  97. 
A.S.  niht  and  tal,  a  reckon- 
ing. 

Noble,  well-known,  famous,  illus- 
trious, splendid,  P.  60,  496,  708, 
K.  1027.  Lat.  nohilis  (for  (jno- 
bilis),  that  which  is  well  known  ; 
hence  (1)  conspicuous  or  illus- 
trious; (2)  possessed  of  quali- 
ties calculated  to  render  one 
illustrious. 

Noght,  not,  P.  253,  648.  A.S. 
7ie-aht. 

Nolde  =  ne  wolde,  would  not,  P. 
550,  K.  45. 

Nombre,  number,  P.  716.  Fr. 
Nombrc,  Lat.  nitmerus. 

Nomoo,  no  more,  P.  101.  A.S. 
ma. 

Non,  Noon,  no  one;  (pi.)  no, 
none,  P.  178,  210,  594,  K.  1038. 

Nones,  for  the  nones,  for  the  occa- 
sion, P.  379.     See  note,  P.  523. 

Nonne,  a  nun,  P.  118.  Lat.  non- 
mis,  norma,  a  monk,  a  nun. 
Literally,  grandfather,  grand- 
mother :  cf.,  pope ;  i.e.,  papa, 
father. 

Noot,  Not  =  ne  wot,  know  not, 
P.  284,  K.  181,  482. 


GL0H8AR1AL    INDEX. 


289 


Noote,  ii  note,  P.  235.    Lat.  tiolna 

((/iioliis),  ;i  luiirk  ])}'  which  any 

tliinn'  may  be  known. 
Norisching,  Norisschynge,  nur- 
ture,   P.    437,     K.    215U.     Pr. 

iionnir ;  cf.  nurse. 
Mose-thurles,    nostrils,     P.  557. 

See  note.     A.S.  t/ii/irl.  a  hole, 

from    lhi/r/i(in,    to    ijicrce ;    cf. 

t/irill,  trill,  drill,  tliroiKjh,  lJioroi((//i. 
Not  =  i>e  loot,  knows  not,  K.  405. 
Not  but,    only,    K.    1864;    O.E. 

)iohlmf. 
Not  heed,  a  liead  witli  close  cut 

hair,  P.  lOU. 
Nother  =  iie  ulher,  neither,   nor, 

K.  S8,  513. 
Nothing  (adv.),  in  no  respect,  K. 

tiOl. 
Nought,  not,   P    74,   107.      A.S. 

iKi/il,  iif'-a-iciht. 
Nouthe,  ((.s  nixillw,  just  now,   at 

present,  P.  4G2. 
Nyce,  soft,  foolish,  P.  0U8.     See 

note.     Fr.  nice,  or  A.S.  hnesc. 
Nys  =  ne  .  .  .  is,  is  not,  there  is 

no,  K.  43. 

o. 

O,  00,  one,  P.  253,  K.  354.     Ab- 
breviated from  one. 
Oath,  Oth  (e),  an  oath,  P.  120, 

8IU.     A.S.    alk    from    a    [aije, 

ever) ;  cf.  ae,  a  law. 
Obedient,  submissive   to  proper 

autliority,  willing,  P.  851.  Lat. 

ohediens  [oh-dudiens). 
Obeissaunce,  obedience,  K.  2116. 

Fr.  obe'issaiice,  Lat.  obedire. 
Observaunce,  religious  riles,  K. 

187,  1406.     Liit.^ohsi'rriiiitid. 
Of,  concerning,  in  regard  to,  P. 

177,  401 ;  of  is  also  the  regular 

sign  of  the  genitive  case  ;  off,  P. 

782,  K.  1818;  out  of,  K.  1665; 

by,  K.  2119. 
Otfende,  to  injure,  attack,  K.  51, 

1536.     Lat.  offendere. 
OflFensioun,  damage,  K.  1558. 
OfTertorie,  a  portion  of  scripture 

said  or  sung  while  the  alms  is 

being  collected,  P.  710. 


Office,  a  position  involving  duties, 
particularly  of  a  public  charac- 
ter, P.  2'J2 ;  fd  in  ojiicf,  entered 
service,  K.  560.     l^mi.  ojjicinni. 

Offryng,  an  offertory  service,  P. 
450  ;  alms,  P.  480. 

Ofte  sithe  (s),  oftentimes,  P. 
485,  K.  101 'J.     A.S.  sith,  time. 

Ofte  tymes,  many  times,  often- 
times, K.  454. 

Oghte,  ougiit,  P.  660.    A.S.  (Kjan. 

Ok,  Ook,  an  oak,  K.  844,  1432. 
A.S.  uc,  wliich  form  is  still  pre- 
served in  acorn  =  oak-corn. 

Old  (e),  old,  P.  175.  AS.  aid, 
Ger.  alt,  Goth,  allheis,  from  akin, 
to  nourish  ;  cf.  Lat.  alere. 

On,  00  (n),  one,  P.  148,  et  passim ; 
on  and  oon,  one  by  one,  each  by 
itself,  P.  679.  A.S.  an,  Lat. 
nnus. 

On,  against,  P.  594.  A.S.  on, 
Lat.  in. 

Ony,  any,  P.  552.     A.S  ani<i. 

Oones,  once,  al  cones,  at  once,  P. 
765.    A.S.  anes. 

Oonly,  only,  K.   515,   731.     A.S. 

(tJllic. 

Oype,  opium,  K.  614.     Gr.  oTrof, 

juice  of  a  ])lant. 
Opynyoun,  opinion,  doctrine,  P. 

337.     Lat.  opinio. 
Or,  ere,  P.  255,  K.   771  ;  or  that, 

before  that,  P.  36  ;  cf.  Lat.  antca, 

or    ever,    ere,    ever,    or  .  .  .  or, 

either  ...  or,  K.  627. 
Oratorye,  a  place  for  prayer,  a 

small    chapel,    K.    1047.    Lat. 

oratorium. 
Ordeyne,  to  ordain,  K.  1695. 
Ordres    (sing,    order),    orders,   P. 

210.     Fr.  ordre,  Lat.  ordo. 
Ordynaunce,  a  public  order,  K. 

1709. 
Orisoun,  a  prayer,  K.  1514.     Fr. 

oraison,  Lat.  oratio. 
Oth,  an  oath,  P.  810.     A.S.  ath. 
Other,   either,  K.  735 ;  other  .  .  . 

or,  either  ...  or.     A.S.  olhthe. 
Othre  (pi.  of  other),  othre  thinqes, 

otiier  things,  P.  759.    A.S.  other, 

pi.  othre. 
Ought,  aught,  P.  389.     A.S.  aht. 


19 


290 


GLOSSARIAL   INDEX. 


Ought  (e)  (pr.  of  oive),  ought,  P. 

505      See  note. 
Oure  (gen.  pi.  of  ive),  of  us,  our, 

P.  695,  813,  oure  alllier,  of  us  all, 

P.  823. 
Outhees,  outcry,  K.  1154.     Mid. 

Lat.  Iiutesiuin,  Fr.  huer,  to  sliout. 
Outrage,  excess,  K.   1154.     Lat. 

ultra. 
Outrydere,  one  who   rides   well 

up  with  the  hounds  in  hunting, 

P.  IGG. 
Over,  upper,  over  lippe,  upper  lip, 

P.  133      A.S.  ofer. 
Overal,  everywliere,  P.  216,    K. 

34'J ;  above  all,  chiefly,  P.  24U  ; 

besides,  K.  1992.     Ger.  iibmil. 
Overeste   (supl.  of  over),   upper- 
most, P.  290. 
Over-ryden  (p.p.  ridden  over),  K, 

1164. 
Overspradde    (pr.),    overspread, 

P.  078.     A.S    spraednn. 
Overthwart,    across,    K.     1133. 

A.S.  l/nveor,  crooked  ;  cf.  queer, 

Ger.  rjuer,  athwart. 
Owen,  Owne,  own,  P.  336,  804, 

K.  2219.     A.S.  «(7eM,  from  oijun, 

to  possess. 
Owher,  anywhere,  P.  653.     A.S. 

o/iu'ftcr. 
Oxenford,  Oxford,  —  the  ford  of 

tlie  river   Ouse,   P.   285.     See 

note. 
Oynement,    ointment,     P.     631. 

Lat.  unguentum. 
Oynouns,   onions,    P.    634.      Fr. 

uiijnon,  Lat.  unio,  A.S.  yneleac. 

P. 

Paas,  a  footpace,  P.  525 ;  paces, 

steps,  K.  1()32  ;  a /mas,  at  a  pace, 

liastily,  apace,  K   1359. 
Pace,  to  pass,  P.  175,  K.  2140  ;  to 

pass  on,  proceed,  P.  36,  K.  744 ; 

to  surpass,  P.  574.     Fr.  ptisser. 
Pacient,  a  patient,  P.  415,  (adj.) 

patient,  P.  484.     Lat.  patiens. 
Page,    a    servant,     especially    a 

youth,  K.  569.     Fr.   //(/ye,   Gr. 

nai&ov. 
Paire,  a  pair,  a  set,  P.  473.     Lat. 


par,  equal,  hence  denoting  any 
thing  divided  into  equal  parts. 

Pale,  pallid,  pale,  P.  205.  Lat. 
pallidus. 

Paleys,  a  palace,  K.  1341.  See 
note. 

Palfray,  a  saddle-horse,  P.  207. 
Fr.  pulefroi,  Mid.  Lat.  veredus ; 
cf.  Ger.  p/erd. 

Palmer,  one  who  has  made  a  pil- 
grimage to  the  Holy  Land,  and 
who  wears  a  palm  brancli  as  a 
token,  P.  13. 

Pan,  the  skull,  tlie  liead,  K.  307. 
A.S.  panne,  applied  to  the  skull 
as  holding  tlie  brain. 

Paradys,  paradise,  K.  379. 

Paramentz,  ornamental  furni- 
ture or  clothing,  K.  1643.  Lat. 
parare ;  cf.  apparel. 

Paramour,  gallantry,  a  lover,  K. 
1254,  (adv.)  witl)  love,  K.  297. 
Fr.  j)ar  amour. 

Parchaunce,  perhaps,  P.  475 ;  cf. 
pur  cas. 

Parde',  an  oath,  P.  563,  K.  454. 
Fr.  par  Dicii. 

Pardoner,  a  seller  of  indulgences, 
P.  669. 

Pardoun,  a  pardon,  an  indulgence, 
P.  687,  —  the  Latin  equivalent 
of  forqiveness. 

Parfight,  perfect,  P.  422.  Fr. 
par/ait,  Lat.  perfectus. 

Parischen,  a  parishioner,  P.  482. 
Fr.  jHiroisxicn. 

Parlement:  ( 1 )  a  meeting  for  con- 
sultation, K.  2113  ;  (2)  the  de- 
crees of  sucJi  a  meeting,  K.  448. 
Fr.  parlement. 

Part.     See  Partye. 

Parte,  a  party,  company,  K.  1724. 
Fr.  parti,  Lat.  purs. 

Partrich,  a  partridge,  P.  349.  Fr. 
perdrix. 

Party,  partly,  K.  195.  Fr.  en  par- 
tie. 

Partye,  Part,  a  party,  K.  1588, 
1799;  part,  K.  2150. 

Parvys,  a  portico  before  a  church, 
P.  310.     See  note. 

Passant,  Passyng,  surpassing,  K. 
1249,  2027.     Fr.  passant. 


OLOSHARIAL   INDEX. 


291 


Passe,  to  surpass,  P.  448,  K.  2'231. 
Patent,   an    open    letter    giving 

public  notice  of  some  grant,  as 

of  nobility,  V.  ol5.     Lat./«(/r/(,s. 
Payc,  to  i)ay,  P.  Go'J.  Lat  /lacare, 

to  satisfy. 
Payen,  pagan,  K.  1512.  P'r.  jinicn, 

Lat.  ])U(ianiis,  a  villager. 
Payne,  torture,  K  275.     A.S./y/». 
Peire,  Peyre,  a  pair,  a  sot,  P.  15'.). 

Lat.  /)(/;■,  hence:  (1)  two  things 

equal  to  each  other;   (2)  annni- 

berof  equal  things.  Peijrc  /)/(ites, 

plates  lor  breast  and  back,  K. 

1263. 
Penaunce,  penance,  P  22:!;  Lat. 

pociiileiitid :  pain,    K.  457;  Lat. 

pociKi ;  cf.  (ir   (/lyi'of . 
Peples,  people,  K.  1G55.     Fr.  j)eu- 

/'/'',. Lat.  jMjpnlux. 
Perce,  to  pierce,  P.  2.    Fr.percer; 

cf.  perk,  prick. 
Perfight,  Perfyt,  perfect,  P.  72, 

008.     Fr.  inirfait,  Lat.  perfectus. 
Perles,    pearls,    K.    1303.  "  A.S. 

pearl. 
Perrye,  jewelry,  precious  stones, 

K.  2078.     Fr.  perre,  from  pierre, 

a  stone  ;  Lat.  petra. 
Pers,  clotli  of  a  bluish-gray  color, 

P.  017. 
Persoun,  a  parson,  P.  478 ;  see 

note,  P.  702. 
Pertourben,   to   disturb,    K.    48. 

Lat.  pertiirbare. 
Peyne,  pain,  grief,  K.  430.     A.S. 

pin,  Ger.  pein,  Lat.  poena. 
Peyne,  to  take  pains,  to  endeavor, 

P.  130.     Fr.  pe.iner. 
Peynte,  to  paint,  K.  1076.     Fr. 

peindre,  Lat.  piiitjere. 
Philosofre,  a  pliilosoplier,  an  al- 
chemist, P.  207. 
Phisik,    medicine,   P.   433      Gr. 

(pvaiKoc,   natural,  —  a    singular 

satire. 
Pighte,  pitched,  thrown  head-first, 

K.    1831.     Pitch   and   pick   are 

different    forms    of    the    same 

word. 
Pikepurs,  a  pick-pocket,  K.  1140. 
Piled,  stripped  of  hair,  bald,  P. 

627  ;  see  pttllc.    Fr.  pele,  a  bald- 
head  ;  cf.  pillage. 


Pilar,  a  pillar,  K.  1135.     A.S.  /'//, 

a  stake,  a  pile,  Lut.  pila. 
Pilgrimage,  a.  journey  to  foreign 

lands,    especially   for   religious 

purposes,  a  pilgrimage,  P.  13. 

Lat.  p(re(/riiu(s,  Fr.  ])eterina(/e. 
Pilour,  a  plnnderer,  a  pillager,  K. 

140.     Fr.  piller,  to  rob. 
Pilw^e-beer,  a  pillow-case,  P.  604. 

Low  Ger.  lieere,  a.  pillow-case. 
Pine,    to    pine    away ;    forpyned, 

pined  away,  P.  205.     A.S.  pin, 

pain. 
Pitance,  an  allowance  of  appetiz- 
ing food,  to  be  eaten  wilh  bread, 

hence  a  small  portion,  P.  224. 

Fr.  pitance. 
Pite  (e),  pity,  K.  62,  803.     O.Fr. 

pile.  Lat.  pietas. 
Pitous,    compassionate,    piteous, 

pious,  K.  1437. 
Pitously,  i)iteously,  piously. 
Place,  residence,  P.  607  ;  an  open 

field,  K.   1541.     Fr.  place,  Ger. 

I  flat  z. 
Plat,  plain,  K.  087.     Fr.  plat,  Ger. 

platt. 
Playen.     See  Pleye. 
Playn,  clear,  plain,  P.  700      Lat. 

jilaiiHs,  level. 
Playnen,    to    complain,    K.    303. 

Fr.  plaindre,  Lat.  pfuni/ere. 
Plentyvous,  plentiful,  P.  344. 
Plesant,  Plesaunt,   pleasant,    P. 

138.     Fr.  j)luisanl,  pleasing. 
Plesaunce,  pleasure,  K.  713. 
Plese,   to    please,    P.    010.      Fr. 

plaire,  Lat.  placere. 
Pley  (e),  play,  pleasure,  K.  267. 

A.S.  plega. 
Pleye    (nj,   Playen,  to  play,   to 

make  sport,  P.  236,  257.     A.S. 

plet/ian. 
Pleyn,  f nil,  plenary,  P.  315.     Lat. 

pleniis. 
Pleyn    (adv.),    plainly,    P.    727. 

Lat.  plane. 
Pleyne,  to  plead,  P.  327  ;  to  com- 
plain, K.  462.     Fr.  plaindre,  to 

complain. 
Pleynly,  fully,  K.  875.     Lat.  ple- 

nuni. 
Pleyynge,  amusement,  out-door 

exercise,  K.  203. 


292 


GLUHSARIAL   INDEX. 


Pocok,  peacock,  P.  104.  A.S. 
pnwa,  Ger.  pfaii,  Lat.  jhivo. 

Point,  gist  of  the  matter,  P.  790. 
Lat.  puiictum,  a  prick :  iience 
(1)  that  which  pricks;  (2)  the 
mark  made  by  a  sliarp  instru- 
ment;  (3)  any  small  space  or 
time ;  (4)  the  point  towards 
wliicli  discom'se  aims. 

Pollax,  an  axe  fitted  to  a  handle, 
K.  1687.  A.S.  pol,  a  handle, 
"  an  a.xe  for  knocking  one  on 
the  poll  or  head.'"  Wedgwood. 

Pomel,  top  of  tlie  head,  K.  1831. 
O.Fr.  pommel,  Lat.  pomnm,  an 
apple  ;  hence  any  thing  shaped 
like  an  apple. 

Pomely,  dappled,  pomdi/  gray, 
dappled  gray,  P.  616.  Fr.  pom- 
me,  an  apple ;  spotted  like  an 
apple. 

Pompe,  revei'ential  manner,  P. 
525.  Gr.  nofinr/,  a  solemn  pro- 
cession, hence  a  stately  man- 
ner. 

Poraille,  the  ])oor,  P.  247.     Fr. 

Pore,  poor.  Fr.  pdiivre,  Lat.  pau- 
per. 

Port,  demeanor,  carriage,  P.  6U, 
138.  Yv.  porter,  hat.  ]Mjrlare ;  ct'. 
deportment. 

Portraiture,  a  painting,  pictures, 
Iv.  1110      Yv.  ])o)irtraire. 

Portraying,  painting,  K.  1080. 

Portreyour,  a  ])ainter,  K.  1041. 
Fr.  portraire;  cf  portrait. 

Pose,  to  suppose,  to  put  a  case, 
K.  304.     Fr.  ap}>oser. 

Post,  a  support,  a  pillar,  P.  214 ; 
see  note.     Lat.  positns. 

Pouche,  a  pocket,  P.  368.  See 
note. 

Poudre-marcliant,  a  sharp  sea- 
St)ning  powder,  P.  381. 

Poure,  poor,  P.  225.  Fr.  jiauvre, 
Lat.  jHiuper. 

Povrely,  humbly,  like  a  poor 
man,  K.  696. 

Power,  ability,  authority ;  power 
of,  authority  to  grant,  P.  218. 
Fr.  pouvoir. 

Powre,  to  pore,  P.  185 ;  allied  to 
bore. 


Poynaunt,  pungent,  highly  sea- 
soned, P.  352.  Fr.  ]ioi</nant, 
Lat.  pwujens. 

Poynt,  the  smallest  particle,  K. 
1908;  the  gist  of  a  matter  un- 
der discussion,  K.  2113.  Sec 
Point. 

Practisour,  a  practitioner,  P.  422 

Praye,  to  pray,  P.  743 ;  to  pray 
for,  K.  404.  Fr.  ])rier,  Lat. 
precari. 

Preche,  t(;  preach,  P.  481.  Fr. 
prechcr,  Lat.  jiredinire. 

Preest,  a  priest,  P.  164,  an  abbre- 
viation of  presbyter. 

Prelat,  a  prelate,  a  superior  clergy- 
man, P.  204.  Fr.  pre/at,  Lat. 
preferre. 

Prescience,  foreknowledge,  K. 
455.     Lat.  pre-scientia. 

Prese,  to  press,  K.  1672.  Lat. 
pre  mere,  pressum. 

Preve,  to  prove,  P.  547.  Lat. 
probare. 

Preye,  to  pray,  K.  625.  See 
Praye. 

Preyeres,  prayers,  P.  231.  Fr. 
pricr,  Lat.  ]irecari. 

Pricasour,  a  hard  rider,  P.  189; 
literally,  a  spitrrer. 

Prike,  to  incite,  P.  11,  K.  185;  to 
ride  horseback,  K.  1820.  A.S. 
pri<-cian,  to  ])rick,  to  spur. 

Prikke,  a  stab,  a  prick,  K.  1748. 

Prikyng,  riding  horseback,  P. 
191.     Prick,  a  spur. 

Prime,  six  o'clock,  a.  m.,  the  first 
quarter  of  the  artificial  day,  K. 
1331.     Lat.  prima  hora. 

Prioresse,  tlie  Lady  Superior  of  a 
convent,  P.  118.     Lat.  prior. 

Pris,  Prys,  praise,  prize,  honor, 
P.  67,  237 ;  price,  P.  815  ;  prize 
(in  arms),  victory,  K.  1383 ; 
Ger.  preisen,  to  esteem.  Lat. 
preliiim  ;  cf.  praise,  prize,  price. 

Prisoun,  confinement,  imprison- 
ment, K.  165,  237,  438.  Fr. 
prison,  Lat.  prehensio. 

Prively,  privately,  P.  609 ;  secret- 
ly, P.  652.     Lat.  privus. 

Processe,  progress,  K.  2109.  Lat 
processus. 


GLOSSARIAL   INDEX. 


293 


Properly,  according  to  the  pecu- 
linritics  of  each,  P.  729.  Lat. 
proprie. 

Propre,  jjccuhar  one's  own;  propre 
i/iind,  private  property,  P.  581. 
See  note.  » 

Proude,  valiant,  K.  1740.  A.S. 
prut:  (1)  vigorous,  handsome; 
(2)  feeling  begotten  by  the  con- 
sciousness of  possessing  such 
qualities. 

Prys,  prize,  P.  07,  815.     See  Pris. 

Pryve,  secret,  K.  1G02.  Lat. 
pn'vtts. 

Pryvyte,  secret  purpose,  privity, 
K.  553.     Lat.  privatus. 

Pulle,  to  pluck,  to  pulle  a  finch,  to 
pluck  a  finch,  to  cheat  a  green- 
horn, P.  652 ;  pulled,  plucked, 
plundered,  and  so  poor,  a  pulled 
hen,  a  worthless  lien,  P.  177. 
Fr.  pilhr,  to  rob;  cf.  peeled. 

Pultrie,  poultry,  P.  598.  Fr. 
poiile,  Lat.  piillus. 

Punyssched,  punished,  P.  657. 
Lat.  jiiniitus. 

Purchas,  receipts  from  alms,  P. 
256  ;  any  tiling  acquired  by 
eftiirt.  Fr.  pour-chdftxer,  to  hunt 
after. 

Purchasyng,  prosecution,  P.  320. 
See  ,s»/))'rt. 

Pure,  mere,  very,  the  pure  fettrcs, 
the  very  fetters,  K.  421. 

Purfiled,  ornamented,  embroid- 
ered, P.  193.  Fr.  pourfilvr,  to 
work  on  the  edge,  to  ornament 
with  gold  thread ;  cf.  profile,  to 

Purs,  purse,  P.  65G.  Lat.  huim, 
abide;  cf.  bursar,  a  treasurer, 
bourse. 

Purtray,  to  draw,  to  portray,  P. 
96      Fr.  portraire. 

Purveaunce,  Purveauns,  prov- 
idence, plan,  foresight,  K.  394, 
807,  2153.     Lat.  providentia. 

Pye,  a  pie,  P.  384,  an  abbrevia- 
tion of  pti sty  (pastry).  Fr.  paste, 
pate. 

Pynche  at,  to  find  fault  with,  to 
be  captious,  P.  326.  Fr.  jiincer  ; 
cf  "  to  snap  up  one." 


Pynche  (p.p.  i-pynched),  to  plait, 
P.  151.     See  I-pynched. 

Pyne,  sorrow,  iniin,  K.  466.  A.S. 
})in,  Ger.  /«'//(. 

Pyne,  to  torment,  to  pain,  K.  888. 
A.S.  ]iiiian,  Ger.  ])einl(/en. 

Pynne,  a  pin,  P.  233  A.S.  pinn, 
W.  pin,  Gael,  pinne,  a  pin,  —  the 
radical  idea  is  that  of  jioint. 

Pynoun,  a  flag,  streamer,  pennon, 
K.  120.     Fr.  pennon. 

Q. 

Qualme,  sickness,  K.  1156.     A.S. 

cwealm,  pestilence,  death  ;  Ger. 

ipial. 
Queen,  Quen,  a   queen,    K.   10, 

24.      A.S.   cwen,   Goth,   qens,   a 

woman,  —  literally  a  motlier  ; 

A.S.  cennan,  to  bring  forth  ;  cf 

(piean. 
Queynte  (pr.  of  quench,  p.p.  epieynt), 

quenched,  K.  1453,  1476.     A.S. 

cweucan. 
Qiieynte,   quaint,    odd,   K.    673 ; 

strange,    wonderful,    K.    1475. 

Fr.  eoiut,  Lat.  eor/nitus. 
Quicksilver,    mercury,    P.    629 ; 

lire-silver. 
Quod,  quoth,  said,  P.  658,  K.  49, 

376.     A.S.  curdhan. 
Quok,    Quook    (pr.    of    quake), 

quaked,  trembled,  K.  718,  904. 

A.S.  cu-aciau,  Ger.  qunckeln ;  cf. 

qurui-miYQ,  iLXiq,  waii(jle. 
Quyk,  lively,  quick,P.  306.  A.S. 

cAcic,  GioW\.  hirius:  cf  Lat.  w/yus. 
Quyke,  alive,  K.  157. 
Quyke,  to  revive,  K.  1477.     A.S. 

cwicrian. 
Quyte,  to  requite,  pay,  P.  770;  set 

free,   K.  174.     Fr.  quitter,  Lat. 

(piietare  ;  cf.  quit,  acquit,  requite. 
Quytly,  freely,  quite,  at  liberty, 

K.  934. 

R. 

Rad  (p.p.  of  rede),  read.  K.  1737. 

A.S.  raedan. 
Rafter,    a  rafter,    K.  132.      A.S. 

raefler,    from    hraefnian,  to  sup- 


294 


OLOSSARIAL  INDEX. 


port,  —  hence  the  support  of  a 
roof. 

Rage,  a  raging  (wind),  K.  1127. 
¥r.  racje,  Lat.  rabies ;  Chaucer 
also  uses  nu/i'rie,  wantonness. 

Rage,  to  phiy,  to  sport  vigorously, 
P.  257.  To  act  aimlessly  as  in 
play. 

Ransake,  to  search  thoroughly, 
K.  147.  Icel.  raiisdka,  to  ex- 
plore. The  word  did  not  imply 
a  disorderly  search. 

Rasour,  a  razor,  K.  1559.  Fr. 
rasoir,  Lat.  radcri',  to  scrape. 

Rather,  sooner,  more  willingly, 
r.  487,  K.  295.  A.S.  hmthe,  of 
one's  own  accord ;  comp.  of 
ral/i,  soon. 

Raughte  (pr.  of  reche),  reached, 
r.  13(5,  K.  2057.  A.S.  mean,, 
pr.  riichte. 

Raunceoun,  Raunsoun,  a  ran- 
som, K.  166,  318,  347.  Fr.  ran- 
qon,  Lat.  redpinpfio. 

Real,  Rial,  Ryal,  royal,  regal,  K. 
IGO,  039.  Fr.  real,  Lat.  m/iills  ; 
cf.  Ilind.  ra/dli,  a  prince. 

Really,  Ryaliy,  Ryallyehe,  roy- 
ally, regally,  1'.  378,  K.  829. 

Rebel,  a  rebel,  rebellious,  P.  833, 
K.  2188.     Lat.  re-helhm. 

Rebellyng,  rebellion,  K.  IGOl. 

Recche,  Rekke  (iir  ror/htc,  roii(//ilr, 
to  care  for,  to  reck,  to  heed,  K. 
540,  1387.  A.S.  recam ;  cf. 
7-eckIess. 

Reccheles,  reckless,  P.  179.  A.S. 
rrcrclcdS. 

Reconforte,  to  recomfort,  to  com- 
fort, K.  1994.     Lat.  fort  is. 

Recorde,  to  remend)er,  remind, 
P.  829.     Lat.  rrcordari. 

Red,  an  adviser,  counsel,  P.  <i(ir). 
A.S.  raeddii,  to  explain 

Rede,  Reed  (e),  red,  P.  90,  153, 
K.  889.  A.S.  road,  Goth,  rands, 
Ger.  rofh ;  cf  ritddij. 

Rede,  to  advise,  Iv.  2210,  2213. 
A.S.  raedan. 

Rede,  to  read,  P.  709.  A.S. 
rai'dan,  Ger.  redcn. 

Redoutyng,  reverence,  K.  1192. 
Fr.  r<(l(iiiU:r,  to  fear. 


Redy,  ready,  P.  21,  352.  A.S. 
raed,  Ger.  Iiereit.  Allied  to  ridan, 
to  set  out. 

Reed,  Rede,  resource,  plan,  K. 
358. 

Reeve,  an  overseer,  a  steward,  V. 
542,  599.  A.S.  <l('refa,  Ger.  ijraf; 
cf.  sheriff]  i.e.,  shire-reeve. 

Refuge:  (1)  a  place  of  refuge; 
(2)  i)rotection,  K.  862.  Lat.  re- 
fiKjire. 

Refreische,  to  refresh,  K.  1764. 
See  Fresshe. 

Registre,  a  record,  a  register. 
Fr.  as  from  Lat.  re-ycsta. 

Reyne,  a  kingdom,  K.  8;  by  me- 
(oiiomi/,  a  king,  K.  766.  Fr.  reip)e, 
Lat.  rec/riuin. 

Reheree,  to  reliear.se,  P.  732.  Fr. 
rclicrcer,  lierse  =  a  harrow  ;  lit- 
erally to  go  over  the  ground 
again  with  a  harrow  ;  cf.  col- 
loquial use  of  "  to  rake  up  old 
stories." 

Rehersyng,  a  rehearsal,  K.  792. 

Reken,  Rekne,  to  calculate,  to 
reckon,  I'.  401  ;  to  recount, 
mention,  K.  1075.  A.S.  recan, 
to  tell,  Ger.  reclmcn. 

Rekenynge,  account,  P.  60!'. 

Rehqvies,  relics,  P.  701.  Lat. 
rc/i(/niae ;  literally,  things  left; 
ef.  relict,  a  widow. 

Remedye,  remedy,  P.  475.  Lat. 
remedium,  re-niederi,  to  heal 
again. 

Remenaunt,  a  remnant,  P.  724. 
Fr.  rcmaiunit,  Lat.  remanere. 

Rendyng,  tearing,  K.  1976.  A.S. 
rendan  ;  cf.  rent,  a  tear. 

Renges,  ranks,  rows,  K.  1736. 
Fr.  remje.  Probably  allied  to 
A.S.  raecan,  to  reach,  to  stretch 
to,  —  the  idea  being  that  of  a 
line  ;  cf.  ramje  of  a  gun. 

Renne  (pr.  ran,  run,  pi.  ronne,  p  p. 
irimne  (n),  ronne  [n],  to  run,  K. 
903,  1777.  A.S.  yrnan,  pr.  am, 
p.p.  wrnen  ;  Ger.  rennen ;  cf 
errand,  rennet  (vulgo,  runnet). 

Rennyng,  running,  at  a.  renni/n//. 
on  a  run,  P.  551. 

Renoun,      renown,     wide-s]iiead 


OLOSSARIAL   INDEX. 


295 


knowledge  of  one,  P.  316.     Fr. 

rcnom,  Ljit.  n'-iKniioi. 
Rente,  reguLar  income,  revenue, 

v.   '25G,    57'J.      Fr.    lentc,   from 

rendre,  Lat.  rcddcic ;  cf.  render, 

niu-ns  from  an  investment. 
Rente  (pr.  of  re//ffc),  threw  down, 

K.  132.     A.S.  rendan. 
Repentaunce,  penitence,  K.  918. 

Lat.  rr-jiriiiteiititi. 
R  pentaunt,  penitent,  P.  228. 
Repplicacioun,  reply,   rejoinder, 

K.  'J88.     Lat.  /Y7;//wt//o,  literally 

a  folding  back. 
Reportour,   a  reporter,    P.    814. 

Lat    re-porf(ire,   to    bring  back; 

cf.  colporteur. 
Rescous,  rescue,  K.  1785.     O.Fr. 

rescons,  Lat.  re-excutere,  to  fetch 

a  thing  out  of  pawn. 
Rese,  to  shake,  K.   1128.      A.S. 

hrcosan,  to  sliake,  fall. 
Resons,  sayings,  opinions,  P.  274. 

Fr.  raisnn,  Lat.  i-atio. 
Resoun,    reflection,    reason,     K. 

908  ;  reasonable,  P.  847. 
Resowne,    to    resound,   Iv.    420. 

Lat.  rcsoiKtre. 
Respite,  delay,  consideration,   K. 

90.     O.Fr.  res/lit,  Lat.  respect ns. 
Retenue,  Lii/i/hts  nf,  retainers,  K. 

1044.     Fr.  retinue,  Lat.  retinere. 
Rette,  to  impute,   P.   726.     See 

Aretted. 
Reule,  a  rule,  P.  173.     A.S.  rcgol, 

Fr.  rhjle,  Lat.  reejnla,  from  regere, 

to  direct. 
Reule,  Rewle,  to  rule,  P.  816,  K. 

814.     Lat.  regere. 
Reuthe,  pity,   K.  1533;  cf  mlh- 

less.     A.S.  hreowiiin,  to  be  sorry 

for. 
Revel,  a  noisy  gathering  or  feast, 

K.  1859.     O.Fr.  rerd,  Lat.  rahu- 

Jare  ;  cf.  rabble. 
Reverence,   respect,   P.   141 ;    in 

reverence,  modestly,  P.  805.  Lat. 

reverentia. 
Rewe,   a    row,    K.    2008.     A.S 

raewa,  Ger.  reihe. 
Rewe  (n),  to  be  sorry  for,  to  pitv, 

K.    1005,  1375.      A.S.    hrenwiau, 

Ger.  rencH,  YuUg.  rue. 


RewfuUeste,     saddest,    exciting 

most  pity,  K.  2028. 
Reyn,  rain,  P.  492.     A.S.  i-e</cn. 
Reyne,  a  rein,   K.  46.     Fr.  renne, 

from  Lat.  retinere. 
Reyne,   to   rain,    K.    677.      A.S. 
regniiin,  Ger.  regnen. 

Reyse,  to  make  a  military  expedi- 
tion, F.  54.  A.S.  raesan,  Ger. 
reisen,  O.E.  7-ace,  to  rush  ;  cf. 
mill-race. 

Rially,  Riallyche,  royally.  See 
Really. 

Riche,  rich,  the  rich,  P.  248.  A.S. 
ric,  wealtli,  power,  Ger.  reich, 
Goth,  rei/cn,  ruler  ;  cf.  Lat.  rex. 

Richesse,  riclies,  K.  397.  Fr. 
richesse.  The  noun  in  English 
is  collective  with  an  apparently 
plural  termination. 

Riden  (pr.  rood,  pi.  ride7i,  p.p. 
rideu),  to  ride,  P.  169,  328,  825. 
A.S.  ridun,  Ger.  reiten,  —  the 
original  idea  being  tliat  of  sway- 
ing up  and  down,  like  the 
motion  of  one  on  liorscback. 

Right,  very,  P.  288,  even,  wholly  ; 
1'.  804  ;  exactly,  just,  rigid  nou\ 
just  now,  P.  767 ;  rig/ites,  riglitly, 
at  alle  rifjhtes,  in  all  respects,  K. 
994.  A.S.  riht,  Ger.  recht,  Lat. 
rectus. 

Rightful,  just,  full  of  riglit,  K. 
861. 

Rime,  to  tell  in  poetry,  K.  601 ; 
see  note.     A  S.  rim. 

Rite,  Ryte,  a  religious  ceremony, 
K.  1041,  1426  ;  to  do  rites,  to  per- 
form religious  ceremonies.  Lat. 
rite,  in  due  form. 

Robes,  clothing,  V.  296.  Fr.  robe, 
A.S.  renf,  clothing.  From  rob, 
reave  (berecwe),  from  the  fact 
tliat  they  were  originally  made 
of  skins  of  animals,  which  would 
easily  give  rise  to  the  figure  of 
robbing  one  animal  of  its  dress 
to  make  one  for  anotlier. 

Rome,  to  roam,  K.  207  ;  see  note. 
Literally,  to  go  to  Rome. 

Ronnc  (n),  i>r.  pi.  oi  renne. 

Rood  (pr.  oiride),  rode,  P.  390. 

Rods  (pr.  of  rysc),  rose,  P.  823. 


296 


OLOSSABIAL    INDEX. 


Roost,  a  roast,  V.  206. 

Roote,  rote,  ly  ronle,  by  rote,  P. 
327.     Fr.  mute  ;  cf.  routine. 

Rore,  to  roar,  K.  2023.  A.S. 
rarun. 

Roste,  to  roMSt,  V.  147,  384.  O.Fr. 
rostir,  Ger.  riisten,  to  roast,  from 
rost,  a  grate,  a  gridiron. 

Rote,  a  musical  instrument,  P. 
236. 

Rouke,  to  huddle,  lie  close,  K. 
450.  Wedgwood  refers  to  Dan- 
ish riiqe,  to  brood,  to  hatch. 

Rouncy,  a  hackney  horse,  P.  390. 

Round,  full,  rotund,  protuberant, 
K.  1310.    Fr.  rond,  Lat.  rotimdus. 

Roundel,  a  song  in  which  there 
are  repetitions,  or  a  song  with 
a  chorus,  K.  671.  Fr.  rondelet, 
a  r()u»dehn/. 

Route,  Rowte,  a  company,  P. 
022,  K.  1295.  O.Fr.  route,  Ger. 
rotte. 

Routhe,  pity,  ruth,  it  vas  ro>tthr, 
it  was  sorrowful,  K.  56.  See 
Reuthe. 

Rudelyehe,  coarsely,  rudel}',  P. 
734.  Lat.  ruditi,  unwrought, 
hence  denoting  the  manners  of 
an  uncultivated  person. 

Ruggy,  rough,  ragged,  K.  2025. 
A.S.  hnicod,  O.E.  rofigo,  to  tear. 

Rusehyng,  rushing,  K.  783.  A.S. 
raesnn,  raes.  But  cf .  Webster's 
Diet. 

Ryal,  royal.     See  Real. 

Ryally,  royally.     See  Really. 

Ryngen,  to  ring,  K.  1742 ;  an  im- 
itative word  ;  cf.  to  diiu/. 

Rynges,  rings,  K.  1307.  A.S. 
hriiif/,  a  circle  ;  Ger.  ring. 

Ryse  (pr.  roo.s),  to  rise,  P.  33. 
A.S.  risan,  pr.  ras. 

Ryt  =  rideth,  rides,  K.  116,  123. 
A.S.  ridan  ;  3d  sing.  pres.  rit. 


S. 


Sacred,  devoted  to  pious  uses, 
holy,  K.  1063.     Lat.   sacrr. 

Sad,  sober,  staid,  K.  2127.  O.E. 
add,  firm,  A.S.  sued,  satisfied, — 
hence  at  rest. 


Sadel,  a  saddle,  K.   1304.     A.S. 

sadel,   from  sittan ;    cf.  nettle,  a 

seat;  A.S.  setl,  Ger.  sattel. 
Sadly,    firmly,    K.    1744.      A.S. 

sit(  d. 
Sake,  cause,  K.  942.     A.S.  saru, 

strife,  suit  at  law  ;  Ger.  sache. 
Salte,    salt,  K.  422.      A.S.   scaU, 

Goth,  sidt,  Lat.  s«/,  Gr.  ilTuq. 
Salue,    to    salute,    K.    634,     Fr. 

S'duer,  Lat.  salutare. 
Saluyng,  a  salutation,  K.  791. 
Sangwyn,  ruddy,  P.  333,  K.  1310. 

Lat.  sam/uineus. 
Sarge,    a  coarse    woollen    stuff, 

serge,  K.  1710. 
Sauce,  sauce,  condiments,  or  veg- 
etables eaten  with  meat,  P.  129 ; 

(Morris   explains   as  =  saucer). 

Lat.  solsus. 
Sauf,   save,   except,   P.   683,   K. 

1322. 
Saugh  (pr.  of  see),   saw,  P.   193, 

764.     A.S.  seoti,  pr.  seah. 
Save,  the  herb   sage,   salvia,   K. 

1855.     Lat.    salvere,   to    be    in 

good  heath. 
Sawceflem,  pimpled,  P.  025 ;  see 

note.     Lat.    salsum-phlegma ;  cf 

sdlt-rheum. 
Savire,  a  saying,  a  saw,  K.  305 ; 

discourse,  K.  668.     A.S.  sngu, 

from  secgan,  to  say.     The  Icel. 

form  saga  may  be  said  to  be 

almost  naturalized. 
Sawtrie,  a  psaltery,  P.  296. 
Sayn  (pr  seide),  to  say,  P.  284. 
Scape,  escape,  K.  249.     See  note. 
Scarsly,  parsimoniously,  frugally, 

P.  583.     Lat.  excerptus. 
Schaft,  an  arrow,  K.  504.     A.S. 

sceaft,    a    shaved    stick,    from 

scapan,  to  shape  ;  Ger.  scliajl. 
Schake    (p.p.),  shaken,   P.    406. 

A.S.  sccac.an  ;  cf.  to  slmck. 
Schal,   shall,    P.   731 ;   see  note, 

must,  P.  853  ;  and  ay  schal,  and 

ever  must,  K.  325.    A.S.  sccal. 
Schame :  (1)  disgrace,  K.  697  ;  (2) 

the  feeling  caused  by  disgrace ; 

(3)    a    similar  feeling    due    to 

modesty.      A.S.    sceamu,    Ger 

scham. 


G/.OSf^A/UA/.    l.yjJKX. 


297 


Schamfasuiesse,  modesty,  V.  840. 
Now  incorrectly  spelled  shiinie- 
Jiiccilness. 

Schap,  shape,  form,  K.  1031.  A.S. 
snijitni,  to  I'oriii,  to  shape;  cf. 
ianil-.sYv/;)r'. 

Schape  (n),  (p.p.  scJiopf  {»),  to 
plan,  ])urp().^c,  /  ic(/fe  sclmpp  me 
=  I  will  plan  for  myself,  i.e.  I 
will  adjust  myself,  P.  809 ;  fixed, 
determined,  K.  250,  534.  A.S. 
sca/Hin,  Ger.  schaffen. 

Schaply,  fit  (in  shape),  P.  372. 

Scharp,  sharp,!'.  114.  A.^.sre(trp, 
from  srrniii  (sccarjaii),  to  cut; 
Ger.  sc/idif. 

Schave,  (i).p.),  sliaven,  P.  588. 
A.S.  scd/ltii,  Ger.  schahen,  to 
shave. 

Sche,  she.     A.S.  .sco,  E.E.  schn. 

Scheeld,  a  sliield,  K.  1264.  A.S. 
scjild,  from  scylduii,  to  protect; 
Ger.  srhi/d. 

Scheeldes,  shillinsjs,  crowns  —  a 
coin  marlved  with  a  shield,  P. 
278.  Fr.  ecu,  Lat.  scutum.  Shil- 
ling =  sliirldilig. 

Schene,  Scheene,  bright,  beauti- 
ful, P.  115,  K.  G51.  A.H.scn, 
from  scinan,  to  shine  ;  cf.  sheen, 
Ger.  srJiuii. 

Schent  (p.p.  of  schende) ,  destroyed, 
K.  18'.)fi.     A.S.  seen  dan. 

Schepne  (pi.  of  schepcn),  stables, 
K.  1142.  A.S.  sri/pen ;  Ger. 
scltoppen,  coach-house. 

Schere,  shears,  K.  1559.  A.S. 
sceran,  Ger.  scheren,  to  cut.  From 
this  root  come  shure,  plougli- 
sh(tre,  shire,  shore  ])ot-sherd,  shred, 
r.hort,  skirt,  shirt,  sharp,  >throud,&.,Q. 

Scherte,  a  shirt,  K.  708.  A.S. 
sceort,  short  ;  i.e.,  a  short  gar- 
ment. 

Schet  (p.p.),  sliut,  K.  1739.  A.S. 
scittan,  to  lock. 

Schire,  a  county,  P.  15,  356,  584. 
A.S.  sceran,  to  divide;  cf.  shire- 
town,  sheriff  =  shire-recve. 

Schirreve,  a  slieriff,  reeve  of  the 
shire  or  county,  P.  359.  A.S. 
(jerefa,  Ger.  <jraf,  A.S.  reaf,  a 
tax-gatherer. 


Schodc,  the  temple,  K.  1149. 
A.H.  sceadan,  to  divide;  literally 
=  the  dividing  (of  the  liair) ;  cf. 
shed,  shed-rool,  water-sAeJ. 

Scholde,  should. 

Schon  (pr.  of  schine),  shone,  P. 
198.     AS.  scinan,  pr.  scan. 

Schoo,  a  shoe,  P.  253.  A.S.  sceo, 
Goth,  slohs,  Ger.  schuh. 

Schort,  sliort,  I*.  93,  549,  wanting, 
deficient,  P.  746.  From  A.S. 
sceran,  to  shear,  sceort,  short. 

Scherte,  to  shorten,  P.  791.  A.S. 
scortian. 

Schortly,  Schorteliche,  in  a  little 
time,  P.  30  ;  briefly,  P.  715  ;  in 
brief,  K.  627.     A.S.  scortlice. 

Schot,  a  javelin,  a  missile  weapon, 
K.  1686.  A.S.  scot,  a  dart, 
sccolan,  to  shoot. 

Schowres,  \)\.  of  sclwwer,  P.  1. 
A.S.  sceor,  a  storm,  Goth,  skura 
u'indis,  a  storm  of  wind. 

Schrive  (p.p.  ischrire),  to  shrive, 
to  hear  confession,  P.  226.  A.S. 
scri/iin. 

Schul  (n),  (pi.),  shall,  K.  889. 
A.S.  /c  sccfd,  we  srulon,  p.  sceolde. 

Schulde,  should,  ought  to,  P.  249, 
745  ;  cf.  Ger.  schuldig. 

Schulder  (pi.  schddres),  a  shoul- 
der, P.  678.  A.^.sculder.  Prob- 
ably from. sr !//(/,  a  shield,  alluding 
to  the  shape  of  the  shoulder- 
blades.  Wedgwood  suggests 
that  its  probable  origin  is  shovd. 

Schuldered,  shouldred,  P.  549. 

Schyne,  a  shin,  leg,  P.  386,  K. 
421.     A.S.  sci/na. 

Schyne,  to  shine,  K.  118.  A.S. 
.'iciiian  ;  cf.  sheen,  Ger.  schon. 

Schyveren,  to  break  in  pieces, 
to  shiver,  K.  1747.  Ger.  schief- 
ern;  cf.  A.S.  set/ flan,  also  to 
fjuii'er,  shives  (of  flax). 

Science,  learning,  knowledge,  P. 
316.     Lat.  scientia. 

Scole,  a  school,  a  particular  style, 
P.  125  (Gr.  oxoXt/,  leisure) ;  (1) 
time  given  to  intellectual  pur- 
suits;  (2)  a  place  where  leisure 
is  thus  employed;  (3)  a  style 
peculiar  to  those  thus  engaged 


298 


0L08SARIAL  INDEX. 


togetlier;  (4)  a  particular  stylo 

in  general. 
Scoler,    a    scholar,    P.    260.      In 

A.S.  scoler e. 
Scoleye,  to  attend  school,  P.  302. 

O.Fr.  escoloier. 
Scriptures,     writings,     K.    1186. 

Lat.  scriptunte.     Now  restricted 

to  sacred  writings. 
Seche,  Seeke,  to  seek,  P.  17,  784  ; 
for  to  seche,  to  be  sought.     A.S. 

secan. 
Seed,   seed,   P.   596.     A.S.  sued, 

from  sdwttn,  to  sow. 
Seek  (e),  sick,  P.  18.     A.S.  seoc, 

Goth,  sinks,  Ger.  siech. 
Seeknesse,  sickness,  K.  398. 
Seene  (pr.  seigli,  seijh),  to  see,   K. 

56,  P.  580,'  K.  97.     A.S.  seo„, 

seah. 
Sect    (pi.    seeten),   sat,   K.    1217, 

2035.     A.S.  sittan  pr.  saet. 
Sege,  a  siege,   K.  79.     Fr.  siet/c, 

Lat.  sedes,  a  sitting  or  seat ;   in 

war  opposed  to  storm. 
Seide    (pr.  of  sei/e),  said,  should 

say,  P.  183. 
Seigh  (pr.  of  seme),  saw,  P.  850. 
Seistow,  sayest  thou,  K.  267. 
Seknesse,  sickness,  K.  453.     A.S. 

sejjcni/sse 
Selde,'  seldom,    K.     681.       A.S. 

srl,l  {,,11),  Ger.  scltrn. 
Selle,    house,   hall,   P.    172.     Fr. 

sa/le. 
Selle,  to  give,  P.  278.     A.S.  si///an, 

to  give  ;  the  original  idea  seems 

to  be  that  of  delivery. 
Sellers,  givers,  P.  248. 
Selve,  same,  llmt  selue  =  that  same, 

that    very,   K.  1726 ;    proi)erly 

dat.  and  ace.  of  self.     A.S.  seo/f 

Ger.  se/b. 
Seme  (v.  impers.),  to  seem,  P.  39. 

A.S.  semaii,  to  seem,  to  approve. 
Semely,  becomingly,   ])leasantly, 

fitly,  P.  128  ;    proper,  suitable, 

P.  751.     A.S.  scmaii,  Gotii.  saiii- 

jan,  to  please. 
Sen  (e),  seen  (e)  (pr.  scii/li,  s<i/li), 

to  see,  for  to  senc  =  to  be  sih'U, 

P.  134;  K.  415,  449. 
Sendal,  a  thin,  rich  silk,  P.  440. 


Sentence,  meaning,  P.  798  ;  high 
sentence  =  of  great  pith  or  mean- 
ing, P.  806;\lecision,  K.  1674. 
Lat.  senteiitia  ;  cf.  sententious. 

Sergeant  of  Lawe,  a  lawyer  of 
the  highest  rank,  P.  309.' 

Sermonyng,  persuading,  preach- 
ing, K.  2233.     Lat.  senna. 

Servage,  bondage,  serfdom,  K. 
1088.     Lat.  servire. 

Serve,  to  supply,  wait  upon,  P. 
749.     Lat.  servire. 

Servysable,  willing  to  perform 
service,  P.  99. 

Serye,  a  series,  K.  2209.  Lat. 
series,  a  row. 

Sesoun,  season,  P.  19.  Fr.  saison, 
Lat.  sdlio. 

Sessioun,  session,  P.  355.  Lat. 
scssio. 

Seten  (p.p.  of  sitte),  sat,  K.  594. 

Setbe  (p.p.  sodden),  to  boil,  P.  388. 
A.S.  seothan ;  cf.  suds. 

Sette,  to  place,  P.  507,  748 ;  sette 
a  sonper,  prepare  (set  out)  a  sup- 
per, P.  815.  A.a.settdn  (causa- 
tive of  sittan),  pr.  sette,  p.p. 
f/eset. 

Seurte,  agreement,  security,  to 
defije  the  seurte^  to  deny  the 
agreement,  K.  746.  An  abbre- 
viation of  seciirif/j. 

Sey  (e),  Seyn  (pr.  srijde),  to  say, 
P.  181,  468.     A.S.  'seajan. 

Seyh  (pr.  of  sene),  saw,  K.  97. 

Seyl,  a  sail,  P.  695.     A.S.  sexjel. 

Seynt,  a  girdle,  P.  329.  '  Lat. 
cinctus. 

Seynt  (e),  holy,  a  saint,  P.  178, 
697  ;  seipite  churite'=  sacred  char- 
ity, K.  868.  Fr.  so /»^,  Lat.  sa/ic- 
tiis. 

Shef,  a  sheaf,  a  handful,  P.  104. 
A.S.  scciif,  Ger.  schanb. 

Shorteliche,  briefly,  K.  627. 

Shrighte,  shrieked,  K.  1959. 

Side,  side,  P.  112.    A.S.  s/c/,  broad, 

-   vast,  long ;  Ger.  seile. 

Siege,  investment,  siege,  P.  56. 
Fr.  sie'ge  (Lat.  sedere),  a  seat: 
hence  the  capture  of  a  fortifica- 
lion  by  invesLment,  instead  of 
by  assault. 


OLOSSA UlAL   INDEX. 


299 


Sigh,  a  sigli,  K.  259.      A.S.  siran, 

to  sigli,  to  sike,  to  act  like  a  sick 

person. 
Sight,   t'oresight,   providence,   K. 

814. 
Signe,  a  sign,  P.  226.     Fr.  sigiic, 

Lat.  signiim  ;  of.  siqnal. 
Sik  (a),"  sick,  P.  245.     A.S.  sic, 

s<(ic  ;  cf.  sican,  to  sigh 
Sike,  a  sigh. 
Sike,  to  sigh,  K.  682.     A.S.  sican ; 

cf.  sick. 
Siker,     sure,    certain,    K.    2191. 

Ger.  siclier ;  cf.  Lat.  seciiriis. 
Sikerly,  surely,  certainly,  P.  137. 
Siknesse,  disease;  in  O.K.  gener- 
ally denoting  epidemics,  as  the 

Phigiie,  P   493.     A.S.  seocni/sse. 
Singe   (pr.  so)i(/,  p.p.  soik/c,  siinye), 

lo  sing,  P.  '711,  K.  197.     A.S. 

siii</(in,  pr.  .<i<ini/,  p.p.  suiujen. 
Sire,  sir  (a  title  of  respect),  P. 

355.     Lat.  senior. 
Sistren  (pi.  of  sislir),  sisters,  K. 

KJl  ;  cf.  brethren. 
Sith  (e),  time,  times,  ofte  sitlus, 

ofte  sithe  =  often   times,  P.  455, 

k.  1019.     A.S.  xilh. 
Sith,  Siththen,  since,  afterwards, 

K.  72,  434;  siththen  that  =  since, 

K.    1244.     A.S.  sith,   time,  sith 

than  (/)os^«(),  afterwards  ;    Ger. 

seit. 
Sitte   (pres.  3d  sing,  sit,  pr.  snt, 

p.p.  setcn),  to  sit,  K.  741,  594. 

A.S.  sittan  (he  sit),  pr.  saet,  p.p. 

seten. 
Sittyng,  staying,  P.  633. 
Skalled,  having  the  .sea//,  or  scab, 

P.   027 ;    cf.   scald-head.      A.S. 

srijl,  a  scale,  sci/hin,  to  separate. 
Skathe,  loss,  misfortune,  P.  446. 

A.S.  sceathan,  Ger.  se.haden. 
Sklendre,  slender,  1\  587.     From 

a  root  signifying  to  dani/le. 
Skyn,  skin,  K.  1284.     A.S.  sci7i. 

Probably  from  scinan,  to  appear, 

to  shine. 
Slake,  slow,  slack,  K.  2043.     A.S. 

shiec,  from  sl(in',  slow. 
Slee  (n),    Slen  (])r.    s/owih   sloivh, 

p.p.  shiipi),  to  slay,  P.' 63,  661, 

K.  122'  200,   1008.     A.S.  slean 


(sldi/an),    pr.    s/oh,   p.p.    slagen; 

Ger.  scidiKjen;  cf.  slaughter,  sledge, 

sleet. 
Sleep,  Slep  (])r.  of  slepen),   slept, 

P.  98,  397,  K.  616. 
Sleere,  a  slayer,   K.  1147.     A.S. 

sl(  11/11. 
Sleeve,    Sieve,   a   sleeve,  P.    93. 

A.S.  .s/r/;    sle/hn,  tO  put  OH. 

Sleighly,  j)rudently,  K.  586;  see 

note.     O.N.  slaei/r,  cunning. 
Sleighte,   cunning,     contrivance, 

craft,  P.  604. 
Slepen   (pr.  sleep,  slep),  to  sleep, 

P.  10,  98,  397,  K.  616.     A.S. 

slaepan,    pr.    slep,    p.p.    slaepen ; 

Ger.  schlafen. 
Slepy,  sleep-inducing,  K.  529. 
Slider,    slip])ery,    K.    406.      A.S. 

slldh,  srn)]ierv,  slidan,   to  slide  ; 

cf.  sled,  sleigh. 
Sloggardye,  sluggislmess,  K.  184  ; 

allied  to  slack  —  lag,  with  inten- 
sive s. 
Slough,  Slowh.     See  Slee. 
Smerte   {\)y.  snierte),  (v.   impers.), 

to  pain,  grieve,  P.  230,  5:>4,  Iv. 

53(j.     A.S.   snieortan,   to   snuirt, 

(icr.  schjnerz. 
Smerte,  smartly,  i.e.  so  as  to  cause 

pain,  P.  149. 
Smite,    Smyte    (pr.     sing,    smot, 

smoot,      pi.      siniten,      imp.      pi. 

smiteth),   to  smite,   P.  149,  782. 

A.S.    sniitan  ;    pr.    ic    sniat,    we 

snuion. 
Smothe,    smooth,    smoothly,    1^. 

670).       A.S.    smethe  ;    ef.    Ger. 

Schmieden,    to     hammer ;      also 

smith. 
Smyler,    a    hypocrite,     K.    1141. 

See  note;  cf.  Ger.  schmeichetn. 
Smyling,  smiles,  P.  119.     Danish 

smile. 
Smyteth.     See  Smite. 
Smyth,    one   who   forges   with   a 

hammer,    a     smith,    K.    1167. 

A.S.  smith. 
Snare,  a   snare,  a  net,    K.    632. 

A.S.  sneare,  Ger.  schnnr,  a  string ; 

ef  a  snare  drum,  —  a  drum  with 

a  string  across  the  head. 
Snewede,  abounded,  1^.  345. 


300 


GLOSSARIAL  INDEX. 


Snybbe,    to   rcbnke,   to   aintb,   P. 

523;  an  intensive  form  of  nip: 

cf.  snif),  snub-nose. 
Soberly,  sad,  solierlike,   P.   289. 

Fr.  sobre,  Lat.  sobrie. 
Socour,   assistance,   K.  GO.      Fr. 

secoars,  Lat.  succnirere. 
Sodeyn,  sudden.  Fr.  soudain,  A.S. 

sodf^ii. 
Sodeynly,  Sodynliche,  snddenlv, 

violently,    K.   200,    717.      A.S. 

sodenlice. 
Solas,  solace,   pleasure,   P.   798. 

Fr.  solas,  Lat.  solatium. 
Solempne,    festive,   P.  209 ;    im- 
portant, P.  36-1.     Lat.  solcmnis. 
Solempnely,    pompously,      with 

affected  dignity,  P.  274. 
Solempnity,  a  feast,  K.  12. 
Som  (pi.  some),  one,  some,  P.  G40; 

som  .  .  .  som  =  one  .  .  .  aiiotlier, 

K.    397,    399.     A.S.    sum,  som, 

some,  one,  some  one. 
Somdel   (e),  somewliat,   P.    174, 

446,  K.  1312.     A.S.  dael,  a  part ; 

cf.  dole,  good  deal,  to  deal. 
Somer,   summer,    P.    394.      AS. 

sumer,  Ger.  sommer,  allied  to  sun. 
Sometime,  a  while,  P.  65 ;  some 

=  a,  one. 
Sompnour,  a  summoner,  a  sort  of 

sheriff    for     the    ecclesiastical 

court,  P.  543.     Lat.  sub  monere. 
Sondry,    sundry,    sondiij    londes, 

lands  widely  separated,  P.   14. 

A.S.  syndrig,  sundor  =  separate ; 

Ger.  sondern. 
Sone,  a  son,  P.  79.     A.S.  sunn, — 

from  root  su,  to  beget. 
Sone,  soon,   K.  562.     A.S.  sona, 

Goth.  suns. 
Song  (e).     See  Singe. 
Sonne,  the  sun,  P.  7,  K.  5.     A.S. 

sunne,  Goth,  sunno,  Ger.  sonnc 
Soot  (e),  sweet,  K.   2002.     A.S. 

su^ot,  swef,  Lat.  suavis. 
Sop,  a  small  bit,  sop  in  uyn,  bread 

dipped  in  wine,  P.   334.     A.S. 

supan,  Goth,   supon,  to  soak,  to 

dip  bread  in  sauce. 
Soper,  that   which  is  sopped   or 

supped,  dessert,   delicacies,    P. 

348.     A.S.suj/an:  cf.  sip,  soup. 


Sore,  grief,  K.    1375.     A.S.  sar, 

cf.  sorrij. 
Sore,  Soor,  severe,  K.  897  ;  sore, 

sad,  K.  1837. 
Sore,  (adv.),  sorely,  severely,  P. 

230,  K.  257.    A.S.  sare,  Ger.  sehr. 
Sort,  lot,  destiny,  P.  844.    Lat. 

sors. 
Sorw3,  sorrow,  K.  93,  361.     vV.S. 

sorh,  Ger.  sorge. 
Sorwe,  to  grieve,  to  sorrow,  K. 

1966.     A.S.  sorqian. 
Sorrowful,  full  of  grief,  K.  212. 
Sory,  sorrowful,  K.  1146.     A.S. 

sarig. 
Soth,  truth,  true,  P.  845 ;  for  sothe, 

in  truth,  P.  283  ;  soth  to  saijn,  to 

tell  the  truth  ;  ful  soth  is  seyd, 

full  true  is  it  said,  K.  767.  A.S. 

soth,  truth,  true  ;  cf.  soo///-sayer, 

for-sooth,  in-sooth. 
Sothely,    truly,    P.    117.      A.S. 

soth lice. 
Sotil,    Sotyl,  skilfully  arranged, 

subtle,  K.  196;  skilful,  K.  1191. 

Lat.  .^nbfilis. 
Soule.     See  Sowle. 
Soun,  a  sound,  P.  674.  Lat.  sonns. 
Souper,  a  supper,  P.  748.     A.S. 

sujxin,  Fr.  souper. 
Souple,   pliant,   flexible,   P.  203. 

Fr.  souple,  Lat.  supplex. 
Sowe,  a  sow,  P.  552.     A.S.  sug, 

Lat.  sus,  Ger.  vc,  and  Eng.  swine, 

are  allied. 
Sowle,  Soule,  the  soul,  P.  781,  K. 

1005.    A.S.srnre/,  Goth,  saiwala, 

Ger.  seele. 
Sowne,to  sound,  P.  565;  soionipige, 

sounding,  boasting,  P.  275  ;  har- 
monizing with,  P.  307.     Fr.  son- 

ner,  Lat.  sonare. 
Spak  (pr.  oispcken),  spake,  P.  124. 
Spare,   to  refrain  from,   P.   192, 

737.     A.S.  sparian. 
Sparre,  a  bar,   the  timbers  of  a 

liuilding,  K.  132.     A.S.  sparran, 

to  bolt. 
Sparthe,  a  battle-axe,  K.  1662. 
Speehe,  speech,  more  speche,  fur- 
ther words,  P.  783.     A.S.  space. 
Special,  in  special,  especially,  P 


OLOSSAIUAL   INDEX. 


301 


Speede  (pr.  spedde),  to  s])C'L'(1,  to 

wisii    success   to,    P.    Ttl'J ;    lo 

liiisteii,  K.  859.     A.S.  spcddii. 
Speken  (pr.   s/Kik),  to  speak,  P. 

142.     A.S.  spcciin,  sprcain. 
Spendc  (pr.   spentc,  ]).p.  sjiciit),   to 

exi.enil,  P.  800,  (MS,  800.     A.S. 

Sjicudan ;    cf .    Lat.   cxjwiidcre,    to 

weigh  out. 
Spere,   a   sjjear,    K.    117.      A.S. 

spere. 
Spiced,  driigged,  and  so  changed 

in    its    nature,    P.    526.       See 

nole. 
Spicerie,  spices,  K.  2077. 
Spices,  species,  kinds,   K.    2155. 

Fr.  e'pices,  Lat.  species. 
Spirites,   si)irits,    animal  spirits, 

K.  511.     See  note. 
Spores,    spurs,    P.     473.       A.S. 

Sj)iir(i ;  cf .  spurn,  spear. 
Sprad    (i).p.),    spread,    K.    2045. 

A.S.  spnirddii. 
Springen,  Sprynge  (p.p.  sprotv/e), 

to  spring  up   (of  tlie  day),   to 

dawn,    P.    822,    K.    570,    1315, 

1351.     A.S.   sj)renr/aii,   to  hurst 

f'ortli ;  cf.  diiij-hrenk. 
Squar,  square,  size,  K.  218 ;   see 

note      Fr.  csipuirre,  Lat.  <piadra, 

from  qiuititor,  four. 
Squyer,  an   attendant   wlio  hore 

the  knight's  sliield,  P.  79;  squi/er 

of  the  chdiulire,  "  Ivniglit  of  the 

koyal    Bedchamher,"    K.    582. 

Fr.  e'cai/cr,  a  squire  {eni,  a  shield) : 

(1)    an   armor-hearer;    (2)  one 

having  the  right  to  carry  arms  ; 

(3)  any  person  of  distinction. 
Stable,  a  stable,  a  standing-])lace, 

P.  28.      Lat.  st(d)uliiiii,  from  s/arc, 

to  stand;  cf.  A.S.  >:fe(d.  a  room. 
Stabled,    established,     K.    2137. 

O.Fr.  est„blir. 
Stalke,  a  stalk,  Iv.  178.     Danish, 

stilk,  a  handle ;   allied  to  stock, 

stick. 
Stalke,  to  walk  slowly,  stealtliily, 

K.  621.     A.S.  staelcttn,  to  walk 

with  feet  lifted  high. 
Starf.     See  Sterve. 
Statue,  statue,  K.  117.     Fr.  statue, 

Lat.  statua,  stare, 


Statute,  a  law  enacted  by  a  legis- 
lativi'  body,  as  distinguislieil 
from  tlie  unwritten  law,  P.  827. 
Fr.  statKt,  l.,at  statuere. 

Staves  (pi.  of  staff),  bludgeons, 
staffs,  K.  1652.     A.S.  stae/'. 

Stede,  ])lace,  in  stede,  in  place,  in- 
stead, P.  281.  A.S.  stede;  cf. 
bed-.s/t'(((/,  sleadij,  slcadinst. 

Steede,  a  horse,  a  steed,  K.  1037. 
A.S.  .^teda,  a  liorse  ;  cf.  stird. 

Steep,  bright,  1".  201.  Semi- 
Saxon,  si  cap;  so  "  stepe  stones, 
"  stepe  starros." 

Steer,  a  steer,  a  yearling  bullock, 
K.  1291.  A.S.  sttor ;  cf.  Lat. 
taurus. 

Stele  (pr.  sl(d,  p  p.  stole,  stolen),  to 
steal,  P  562  A.S.  stelan,  Ger. 
stclilin,  (joth.  stilun. 

Stemede,  shone,  P.  202.  O.E. 
steeiii,  a  Hauie. 

Stenten  (pr.  stente,  p.p.  stent),  to 
stop,  to  check,  K.  45,  510.  A.S. 
stiiitdii,  to  be  blunt;  cf.  stunt, 
stmt,  stent. 

Sterne,  strong,  K.  1296.  A.S. 
Sterne. 

Sterre,  a  star,  P.  268.  A  S. 
sleorra,  a  star,  steorran,  to  steer, 
i.e.  by  the  stars  ;  cf.  star-board  = 
steer-side;  cf.  also  A.S.streou-irn, 
to  strew.  Sansc.  stri,  to  scatter, 
Gr.  uari/i),  L;it.  slella  (sterula). 

Stert,  a  botmd,  at  a  stert  (at  a 
bound),  quickly,  K.  847. 

Sterte  (pr.  stertr,  p.p.  stert),  to 
start,  leap,  K.  94,  186,  222,  644. 
Dutch,  storten,  Ger.  stiirzen  ;  cf. 
startle. 

Sterve  (pr.  .'<farf,  p.p  istorve,  stor- 
ren),  to  die,  'K.  75,  286.  A.S. 
stem-fan,  Ger.  sterben,  Eng.  sfarm-: 
(1)  to  die  by  hunger;  (2)  to  die 
by  any  means. 

Steven,  voice,  K.  1704 ;  at  unset 
stevene,  without  previous  ap- 
l)ointment.  A.S.  stefn,  a  voice, 
an  agreement. 

Stewed  a  fish-pond,  P.  350.  From 
Dutch  .siau,  a  dam. 

Stif,  strong,  firm,  P.  673.  A.S. 
stif,  A.S.  steif. 


302 


OLOSSARIAL   INDEX. 


StiUe,  quietly,  still,  K.  145.     A.S. 

stille. 
Stith,   an   anvil,   K.    11G8.     A.S. 

stith,  a  post,  (adj.)  firm;   from 

standan,  to  si  and;  cf.  stilhi/. 
Stiward,  a  steward,  P.  57'J. '   A.S. 

stiward  ^=  sloive-wcard,  the  keeper 

of  a  mansion  or  place :   hence, 

overseer  in  general ;  cf.  stow,  a 

place. 
Stok,  stock,  family,  K.  693.     A.S,. 

stoc,  a  trunk. 
Stoke  =  steke,    to   stick,   stab,    K. 

1688.     A  S.  stician,  to  stab. 
Stomble,  to  stuml)le,  to  walk  as 

on  stumps,  K.  1755. 
Stones,  gems,  precious  stones,  P. 

699. 
Stonge  (n)  (pp.),  stung,  stabbed, 

K.  22l.     A.S.  stimjan,  stick,  to 

stab,  is  allied. 
Stoon,  a  stone,  P.  774.     A.S.stan, 

Ger.  stein,  Goth,  stains. 
Stoor,    store,    property,    P.    598. 

O.Fr.  estor. 
Stories,  histories,  K.   1297.     An 

abbr.  of  history. 
Stot,   a   stallion,   P.   615.      A.S. 

stotte,  stod,  a  horse. 
Stounde,  a  moment,  an  hour,  K. 

354.     A.S.  stimd,  Ger.  stundi'. 
Stoute,   Stowte,  strong,  P.  545 ; 

bold,  K.   1276;    cf.  stout-hearted. 

A.S.  stolt,  Ger.  stolz. 
Strangle,    strangling,    K.    1600. 

Lat.  strangulare. 
Straughte       (pr.      of      strecche), 

stretched,    K.    2058;     cf    dis- 

traiiijht. 
Straunge,  foreign,  P.  13.     O.Fr. 

estrani/e,  Lat.  cxtrancus. 
Stre   (e),  straw,   K.   2060.     A.S. 

stre,  splints,  streow,  strvLvi ,  streow- 

iun,    to    scatter:    hence,    that 

which  is  spread;   of.' Lat.  ster- 

nerc. 
Strecche  (pr.  striuic/htc),  to  stretch. 

A.S.  strerran,  pr.  strclde. 
Streem,  a  stream,  current,  P.  402; 

beams  of    light,  K.  637.     A.S. 

stream,  Ger.  strom. 
Streepe,  to  strip,  K.  148.     A.S. 

strijpan,  Ger.  streifen. 


Streyt,  strict,  narrow,  P.  174 ; 
direct,  K.  832.     Lat.  strictus. 

Streyt  (e),  closely,  P.  457  ;  imme- 
diately, struiyht-way,  P.  671,  K. 
792. 

Strif,  Stryf,  strife,  contest,  K. 
976,  1580.  O.Fr.  cstrif,  Ger. 
streben. 

Strike  (of  flax),  a  handful  that 
may  be  hackled  at  once,  a  hank, 
P  676.  From  the  verb  to 
strike. 

Strof  (pr.  oistryve),  vied  with,  K. 
180. 

Strond,  a  strand,  a  beach,  P.  13. 
A.S.  strand,  border,  edge. 

Strong,  sinewy,  strong,  mighty, 
K.  566,  1515.  A.S.  Strang; 
cf.  string. 

Strook,  a  stroke,  K.  843.  From 
strike. 

Stryve  (pr.  strof),  to  strive,  to  vie 
with,  to  dispute,  K.  180,  319. 
O.Fr.  estriver,  Ger.  stretten. 

Stubbesj  stubs,  stumps,  trees 
broken  off  at  some  distance  from 
the  ground,  K.  1120.  A.S.  s(y6 ; 
cf.  stubble,  stump. 

Stynte  (pr.  sti/nte),  to  stop,  cease, 
K.  476, 1490.     See  Stente. 

Subtilly,  craftily,  P.  610.  Lat. 
subti/is  —  fine-sjHui. 

Suffisaunce,  a  sufficiency,  that 
which  suffices,  P.  490. 

Suffisaunt,  sufficient,  K.  773.  Fr. 
suflisaiit,  Lat.  sufficiens. 

Sunge.     Sec  Singe. 

Surcote,  an  overcoat,  P.  617.  Fr. 
sur  =  over. 

Surgerye,  the  surgical  art,  P.  413 ; 
for  snir/eotiri/ ;  surgeon  is  con- 
tracted from  rhirun/eon.  Gr. 
X^tpovpyia,  literally,  handicraft. 

Sustene,  to  sustain,  K.  1135. 
Lat.  sustinere. 

Suster,  sister.  A.S.  sweostor,  Goth. 
swistar,  Ger.  schwester,  Sansc. 
swa.sri. 

Sute,  a  suit  (cloth),  K.  2015.  Fr. 
snite,  suivre,  to  follow  ;  hence 
denoting  things  belonging  to- 
gether, "a  suit  of  clothes,"  "a 
suit  of  rooms." 


0L0S8A11IAL   INDEX. 


303 


Swan,  a  swan,  P.  206.  Ger. 
scliwan ;  cf.  A.S.  swiiisian,  to 
sins- 

Swelte  (pr.  siueltc),  to  sigh  like  a 
jierson  fainting,  to  faint,  K.  4yy. 
A.S.  swfltdii,  to  die  ;  cf.  swelter. 

Swerd,  a  sword,  P.  112.  A.S. 
siceord,  Ger.  schivert. 

Swere  (pr.  suvr,  swoor,  p.p.  ('- 
swore  (n),  to  swear,  affirm,  P. 
454,  810  ;  see  note,  K.  9G3. 
A.S.  swei'iun,  to  swear;  cf.  an- 
swer =  and-swear,  to  speali  in 
return;  A.S.  swarian,  to  an- 
swer. 

Swete,  sweet,  P.  5,  2G5.  A.S. 
swete,  O.S.  swoti,  Gotli.s(/^/.s  (for 
swotls),  Lat.  suavis,  Ger.  siiss. 

Swich,  such,  so  great,  P.  3,  K.  4. 
A.S.  sivilc  (stva-lic). 

Swote,  Swoote,  sweet.  See 
Swete. 

Swough,  a  storm,  tlie  noise  made 
by  a  storm  in  tlie  trees,  —  the 
soughing  (sigliing)  of  the  wind, 
K.  1121.     A.S.  sweg,  a  sound. 

Swoune,  to  swoon,  K.  55.  A.S. 
sivuiian. 

Swymtael,  a  moaning,  K.  1121  ; 
dim.  of  O.E.  swim,  sigliing.  A.S. 
swima,  giddiness  ;  cf.  a  "  swim- 
ming in  the  head." 

Swyn  (s.  &  pi.),  swine,  P.  598 
A.S.  swin,  Ger.  scliwein,  Goth. 
siceiii.     Allied  to  sow. 

Swynk,  labor,  toil,  P.  188.  A.S. 
swine. 

Swynke,  to  labor,  toil,  P.  186. 
A.S.  swincan,  allied  to  swing ; 
cf.  "  a  swingeing  blow." 

Swynkere,  a  laborer,  P.  531. 

Syde,  side,  ujwn  i/iat  otlier  si/dr,  on 
the  other  hand,  K.  417. 

Syke,  a  sigh,  K.  1062. 

Syke,  to  sigh,  K.  2127.  A.S. 
sijcan,  to  sigh,  sike. 

Symple,  artless,  guileless,  P.  119. 
Lat.  simplex. 

Syn,  since,  P.  601,  853;  an  abbr. 
of  sitJiens,  sit  hen.  A.S.  sith-than  ; 
cf.  sith. 

Syth,  since,  K.  72,  afterwards. 
A.S.  sith. 


Tabard,  a  sleeveless  coat  em- 
broidered with  the  arms  of  the 
wearer,  originally  worn  by 
noblemen,  —  subsequently  worn 
by  heralds  ;  hence  any  similar 
coat,  a  farmer's  blouse,  P. 
541. 

Table,  a  table,  P.  100.  Fr.  table, 
Lat.  tabula.  The  AS.  for  table 
is  bord. 

Taffata,  taffeta,  a  fine  silk  stuff, 
P.  440. 

Taille,  tally,  took  by  taille,  bought 
on  credit,  P.  570.  Fr.  tailler,  to 
cut,  —  alluding  to  the  method 
of  keeping  accounts  by  notches 
cut  in  a  stick  ;  cf.  retail,  detail, 
tailor. 

Take  (pr.  tok,  took,  p.p.  take  (n), 
imp.  s.  tak,  pi.  taketli),  to  take; 
to  take  our  wei/e,  to  journey,  P. 
34,  789,  K.  1789.  A.S.  tacan  ; 
allied  to  Lat.  tangere,  to  touch ; 
hence  :  (1)  to  receive  any  thing 
in  the  hand;  (2)  to  take  hold 
of;  (3)  to  begin  any  thing. 

Takel,  an  arrow,  tackle,  P.  106  ; 
an  outfit,  —  what  one  takes, 
what  is  necessary.  A.S.  tacan, 
to  attach. 

Tale,  a  discourse,  story,  K.  30, 
719.  A.S.  taelan,  to  blame,  tel- 
lan,  to  speak,  tael,  a  story,  a 
slander  ;  cf.  <a/e-bearer,  tell-tale. 

Talen,  to  tell  tales,  P.  772.  A.S. 
taelan. 

TaUege  =  to  allege,  K.  2142. 
Lat.  allegare. 

Tame,  tame,  subdued,  K.  1320. 
A.S.  tarn,  Ger.  zahm  ;  cf.  ternian, 
to  tame,  to  yoke  ;  Lat.  domare, 
Gr.  dagav,  to  tame 

Tapicer,  a  maker  of  tapestry,  P. 
362.     Fr.  tapis. 

Tappestere,  a  tapster,  P.  241  ; 
tap  is  allied  to  stoj).  A.S.  lap- 
■jiestre. 

Tare,  the  vetch,  —  used  to  denote 
any  small  amount,  K.  712. 

Targe,  a  small  shield,  P.  471.  Fr. 
targe,  dim.  target. 


304 


GLOSS AlilAL   INDEX. 


Tarie,  to  tarry,  K.  1962.  O.Fr. 
tar(/er ;  cf.  Lat.  tdrdiis. 

Tart,  sharp,  puiiLjeiit,  P.  381. 
A.S.  teart,  from  tearan,  to  tear. 
J'arf,  the  noun,  is  from  Fr. 
tarle,  Lat.  tortus. 

Taryinge,  delay,  P.  821 ;  cf.  tanlt/. 

Tas,  Taas,  a  heap,  K.  147,  151, 
1G2.     Fr.  tas. 

Tathenes  =  to  Athens,  K.  1G5. 

Tavern,  an  inn,  P.  240.  Fr.  t<i- 
verne,  Lat.  tabenin,  a  hut  made 
of  boards ;  hence  a  boarding 
place  ;  as  board  =  table. 

Teche,  to  teach,  P.  308,482.  A.S. 
taecan. 

Teene,  mischief,  harm,  K.  2248. 
A.S.  tiiona,  injury. 

Tempest,  a  storm,  P.  40G  (see 
note)  ;  a  notable  time,  K.  26. 

Tendite  =  to  endite,  tell,  K.  351. 

Tendre,  tender,  P.  6 ;  soft,  P. 
150.     Fr.  tendre,  Lat.  tcner,  soft. 

Tente,  a  tent,  K.  163.  Fr.  tente, 
Lat  tenclere,  to  stretch. 

Teres,  tears,  K.  422  A.S.  tear, 
taeher,  Goth,  tar/r,  Gr.  (Vinpv, 
Lat.  lacrijina,  W .  dcigr. 

Termes,  sessions  of  tlie  court,  P. 
323 ;  terms,  technical  terms,  P. 
630;  limit,  end,  K.  171.  Fr. 
terme,  Lat.  terminns,  a  limit ; 
hence  :  (1)  an  end  ;  (2)  a  logical 
term,  —  the  ends  of  a  proposi- 
tion ;  (3)  that  which  is  ended, 
e.g.  a  term  of  years. 

Testers,  head-pieces,  helmets,  K. 
1641.     O.Fr.  teste,  the  head. 

Text,  a  text,  the  subject  of  dis- 
course, P.  177.  Fr.  texte,  Lat. 
te.rtus. 

Thabsence  =  the  absence,  K. 
381. 

Thank,  thanks,  P.  612;  his  tlionkes, 
of  his  own  accord,  willingly, 
eagerly,  K.  768,  1240 ;  Iwre 
thankes,  of  their  own  accord, 
eagerly,  K.  1256.  A.S.  thane, 
thencan,  to  remember. 

Than  (ne),  then   P.  12. 

Tharmes  ^=  the  ((rins,  t]iel)raiiches, 
K.  2058. 

Tharray  =  the  array,  P.  716. 


That,  who,  P.  310  ;  to  that   de 

gree,  so  that,  K.  581,  1568. 
Thavys  =  the   advice,    the    agree- 
ment, the  sanction,  K.  2218. 
The,  thee,  K.    225,  335   (adv.  = 

eo),  the  more  =  more  by  this,  P. 

802.     See  note. 
Theatre,    an    amphitheatre,    Iv. 

1027.     From  the  Gr.  to  view. 
Theef,  a  tliief,  K  467.     A.S.  iheof, 

Goth,  thiuhs,  Ger.  dieb. 
Theffect  =  the  effect,   the  result, 

K.  331 ;  the  conclusion,  K.  62j. 
Thei,  they,  P.  745.     See  note. 
Thencens  =  the  incense,  K.  1419. 

Fr.    encens,    Lat.     incendere,    to 

burn. 
Thenchauntementz  =  tlie      en- 
chantments, K.  1086. 
Thencres  =  the  increase,  P.  275. 
Thentre  =  the  entrance,  K.  1125. 

Fr.  entree. 
Ther  (indetinite  pron.),  there,  P. 

43,  79 ;  where,  P.  34,  547 ;  on 

this  occasion,  P.  259 ;  then,  K. 

321;  ther  as  =  whither,  to  that 

(place)  which,    P.   34 ;    where, 

in  that  (place)  which,  P.    172, 

249,    K.    126  ;    ther    as,     there 

where,  K.  2000, 
Ther  fore  (  =  for  this),  for  this 

reason,  therefore,  1'.  189,  444. 

A.S-  for-tham. 
Therto  (=:to  this),  besides,  also, 

in  addition,  P.  153,  325,  536; 

eek  therto,  and  also,  P.  757,  K. 

566  ;  to  it,  K.  1251. 
Therupon  (=upon  this),  at  tliis 

time,  P.  819. 
Therwith    {=  with    this),   then, 

upon  tliat,  Iv.  441  ;  cf.  thereupon. 
Therwithal  (=  wholly  with  this), 

therewith,    with   this,   P.   566 ; 

at  that  very  time,  K.  220. 
Thes,  these,  K.  673. 
Thestat  =the  estate,  P.  719. 
Thider,   thither,   K.  834.     -A.S. 

thider,  from  the. 
Thikke,  close  together,  K.    217. 

A.S.  thic,  Ger.  dirk. 
Thilke,  that,  the  like,  P.  182,  K. 

335.     A.ii.  thillic,  thi/lc ;  literally 

li/ce  this,  or  that. 


OLUtiSAlllA L    INDEX. 


305 


Thing  (s.  and  pi.),  a  portion,  to 
iiKikr  a  thiii(j,  to  write  a  iwem, 
P.  825  ;  lilcl  ihiiif/,  a  siiiall  por- 
tion, P.  4U0 ;  incitlonts,  tliint^is, 
r.  7;J(J.  A.S.  thine;/.  "Tlie 
I)riiniiive  meaning- seems  to  be 
discourse,  tiien  soienni  discus- 
sion, judicial  consideration, 
council,  court  of  justice,  law- 
suit, cause,  sake,  matter,  or 
subject  of  discourse."  Wedg- 
wood. Allied  to  thencuii,  to  call 
to  mind. 

Thinke,  Thynke,  pr.  l/ioui/hte  (v. 
impers.),  to  seem,  me  thinkelh, 
it  seems  to  me,  1*.  37  ;  //  thoiuj/ite 
mc,  it  seemed  to  me,  1*.  885  ;  liiin 
thoiK/hte,  it  seemed  to  bini,  V. 
682 ;  us  thout/hie,  it  seemed  to  us, 
P.  785.     A;s.  thincan. 

Thinke  (v.  pers.),  to  remember, 
to  think,  K.  748.     A.S.  tlicncuu. 

Thinne,  thin,  small  in  quantity, 
P.  (J7'J.  A.S.  thijH,  thenlan,  al- 
lied to  Lat.  tendere,  to  stretch. 

Thirle,  to  pierce,  K.  1852.  A.S. 
thiiiidn,  to  pierce,  drill,  from 
thurh,  through ;  cf.  thrill,  trill, 
drill,  nos-tril. 

Tliise,  these,  P.  701.     A.S.  thaes. 

Tho  (pi.),  the,  those,  P.  498,  K. 
2tJ5  ;  them,  K.  1498.     A.S.  tha. 

Tho,  then,  K.  185.     A.S.  tha. 

Thofflce  =  the  office,  the  sacred 
duty,  K.  2005.     Lat.  officiuni. 

Thonke.     See  Thank. 

Thorisoun  =  the  orisoun,  i)rayer, 
K.  1408.  O.Fr.  orison,  Lat. 
oratio,  from  orare,  to  pray. 

Though,  although,  though  that, 
although  it  be  that,  P.  68.  A.S. 
theuh,  the  demonst.,  uh  (Lat. 
ce,  que)  ;   cf.  quanquam. 

Thought,  anxiety,  care,  melan- 
choly, K.  1374.     A.S.  thoht. 

Thousend,  a  thousand,  K.  811. 
A.S.  thnserid,  Goth,  thusundja, 
taihun,  ten,  su7id  (hund),  one 
hundred. 

Thral,  a  slave,  a  serf,  K.  694. 
A.S.  thrall,  Gael,  traill. 

Thredbare,  bare  to  the  thread, 
threadbare,  P.  290.  A.S.  thraed. 


Thread,  thread,  K.  1172.  A.S. 
thraed  from  ihrutvan,  to  twist ; 
Ger.  drehdi,  alluding  to  the 
original  method  of  spinning. 

Threisshe,  to  thresh,  P.  586.  A.S 
Ihersean,  to  beat,  Ger.  dreschen. 

Threste,  to  thrust,  to  force  one's 
way,  K.  1754;  cf.  A.S.  thrist, 
bold,  Goth    Iriidini,  to  tread. 

Thridde,  third,  K.  605,  1418. 
A.S.  thriddd,  from  tliri. 

Thriftily,  carefully,  in  the  nuin- 
ner  of  a  thriving  man,  P.  105. 
From  thrice,  tlvrift. 

Throng,  a  crowd,  throng,  K. 
1754.  A.S.  thriiKj,  thringan,  to 
crowd,  Ger.  drim/en. 

Thurgh,  through^  K.  62,  362. 
A.S.  thurh,  Ger.  darch  ;  cf. 
thoroui/h,  thoroiKjh/dre.  See 
Thirle. 

Thurghfare,  a  thoroughfare,  a 
journey,  K.  1989.  A.S.  thurh- 
fare. 

Thurgh-girt,  to  pierce  through, 
K.  152.     See  Girt. 

Thurghout,  quite  through, 
throughout,  K.  288. 

Thus,  in  this  manner,  P.  7(/l. 
Formed  from  the  demonst.  as 
how  from  the  interrogative. 
A.S.  (inst.  case),  thiis. 

Thyselven,  thyself,  I\'  316,  Lit- 
erally a  dative  =:bv  thyself. 

Til,  to,  K.  620.  O.N.  td,  to ;  cf. 
until. 

To  (verbal  prefix)  has  an  inten- 
sive force,  Ger. «.«. 

To,  at,  P.  30 :  for,  K.  1853. 

To-breste  (p.)-..  to-hrosten),  to  burst 
asunder,  to  l)reak  to  pieces,  K. 
1753,  1833, 1899.  A.S.  to-herstan. 

Togidre,  together,  tor/idre  alle,  all- 
together,  P.  824.  A.S.  to-cjaedre. 
From  gather. 

To-hewen,  to  hew  to  pieces,  K. 
1751.     A.S.  to-lieawan. 

ToUen,  to  toll,  to  take  toll,  P. 
562.  A.S.  toll,  Ger.  zoll,  a  tax ; 
cf.  talian,  to  compute.  Wedg- 
wood refei'S  to  Lat.  telonium. 

To-morwe  ^  the  morrow,  P.  780. 
See  note. 


3o6 


GLOSSABIAL  INDEX. 


Tonge,  the  tongue,  P.  712.     A.S. 

hinge,  Goth,   tuygo,  Ger.   zunge, 

Lat.  lingua  (dingua). 
Tonne-greet,  as  large  as  a  tun,  K. 

1136.    Fr.  tonne,  a  barrel,  Lat. 

tina,  a  wine  vessel. 
Too,  a  toe,  K.  1868.     A.S.  ta  [tan 

=  a  twig,  sprout), —  as  though 

the  toes  were  sprouts  growing 

from  the  feet. 
Took  (pr.  of  take),  conjectured, 

understood,  K.  140.     A.S.  tac- 

nian  ;  cf .  token. 
Top,  foretop,  P.  590. 
Toret,  a  turret,    K.    1051.      Fr. 

tourette,  dim.  of  tour,  Lat.  tunis. 
Torettz,  rings,  a  ring  affixed  to 

the  collar  of  a  dog,  whereby  lie 

might  be  fastened,  K.  1294. 
Tormente,  to  torment,  to  torture, 

K.  456.  O.Fr.  tormenter.  See  note. 
Tome,  to  turn,  K.  162.     Fr.  tour- 

ner. 
To-schrede,  to   shred  to  pieces, 

torn  to  shreds,  K.  1751.     A.S. 

to-sceadan ;  cf.    A.S.    seer  an,   to 

cut. 
Toun,  a  town,  P.  217 ;  see  note. 

A.S.  tun,  an  enclosure,  tynan,  to 

enclose ;    from    tan,    rods,    the 

means  by   which  enclosure  is 

effected ;  cf.  yard. 
Tour,  a  tower,  K.  172,     A.S.to/r, 

Fr.  tour,  Lat.  turris. 
Trace,  a  track,  P.  176.     Fr.  trace, 

Lat.  tractus  ;  cf.  trail. 
Trapped,  decked,  K.  1299.    Fr. 

drap,  cloth  ;  cf.  draped. 
Trappures,  trappings,   K.    1641 ; 

cf.  drapery. 
Traunce,  a  trance,  K.  714.    Fr. 

transe,  Lat.  transitus  :  ( 1 )  death  ; 

(2)    a  state   resembling   death, 

syncope. 
Travaile,  labor,  toil,  K.  1548 ;  see 

note.     Fr.  travail. 
Trays,  traces,    K.    1281.      O.Fr. 

trace,  Lat.  trahere,  to  draw. 
Trede,  to  tread,  K.  2164.     A.S. 

tredan,  Ger.  treten. 
Tresoun,   treachery,  a   violation 

of  allegiance,  K.  1143.     Fr.  tra- 

hison,  Lat.  traditio. 


Trespace,  trespass,  K.  960.    Fr. 

trespasser.  , 

Tresse,  a  tress,  K.  191.  Fr.  tresse. 
Literally,  a  braid  of  three 
strands. 

Trete,  a  treaty,  K.  480.  Fr.  traits, 
Lat.  tractatus. 

Tretys,  slender,  well-propor- 
tioned, P.  152. 

Trewe,  trusty,  P.  531.  A.S. 
treowa,  trust,  Goth,  triggws,  true. 

Trewely,  truly,  simply,  P.  481. 

Trompe,  a  trumpet,  P.  674,  K. 
1316.  Fr.  trompe,  O.H.G.  trumba, 
a  drum  ;  cf .  trombone. 

Tronchoun,  a  staff,  a  spear  han- 
dle, K.  1751.     Lat.  truncus. 

Trone,  a  throne,  K.  1671.  Fr. 
trone,  Lat.  thromis. 

Trouthe,  truth,  P.  46,  763 ;  troth, 
agreement,  K.  752.  A.S.  treowth, 
that  in  which  one  may  trust ; 
A.S.  treowian,  to  trust. 

Trowe,  to  beheve,  P.  155,  524,  K. 
662.     A.S.  treowian,  to  trust. 

Trussed  up,  tied  up,  P.  681. 
O.Fr.  torser,  Fr.  irousse>-,  Lat. 
torquere,  to  twist. 

Tukked,  clothed,  P.  621.  A.S. 
tucian,  to  clothe,  O.E.  tuck,  Ger. 
tucli,  cloth. 

Tunge,  a  tongue,  P.  265.  See 
Tonge. 

Tuo,  two,  P.  639.  A.S.  twa,  Ger. 
zwei,  Lat.  duo. 

Turneynge,  a  tournament,  K. 
1699  ;  part,  of  tome. 

Twenty,  twenty,  P.  24.  AS. 
twentig  ;  twen  =  twain ;  tig,  Lat. 
dec-em,  Gr.  dina,  ten.  Ten,  O.S. 
te/ian,  Goth.  totAun=  Lat.  de- 
cern. 
Tweye,  two,  twain,  P.  704,  792, 
K.  40,  270,  836.  A.S.  twegen, 
twa  ;  cf.  twin,  to  twin  (separate), 
twine,  twist,  twig,  tway-hlade,  twi- 
light, twelve,  twenty. 

Twine  (p.p.  tivine),  to  twine,  to 
spin,  twined,  K.  1172.  A.S. 
ticinan  (from  twa),  to  spin  ;  cf. 
twist  (a  cord). 

Twynne,  to  separate,  depart,  P. 
835.     From  tux). 


GLOSS  Alii  AL   INDEX. 


307 


Tyme,  tlie   proper  time,  K.  974. 

A.S.    lima,    time;    (jetimiun,    to 

li;ip|)eii. 
Typet,  a   liooil,  cowl    (used  as  a 

])()i.'ket),  tiiijtet,  r.  233  ;  dim.  of 

liiiH',  a  band. 
Tythes,    teiitiis,    tithes,    P.   486. 

A.S.  leotha,  from  tyii,  ten. 

u. 

Unces,  small  portions,  P.  677  ; 
literally  ounces,  Lat.  uncia,  a 
twelfth  part  of  a  lb.  =  an  ounce ; 
of  a  foot  ^=  an  inch. 

Uncouth,  Uncowth,  rare,  un- 
known, K.  163'J.  A.S.  uncuih, 
from  cniiiuui,  to  know. 

[Jndergrowe,  undergrown,  P. 
156. 

Understonde,  to  understand,  to 
venture,  P.  746.  A.S.  under- 
stdiidan,  Ger.  miterstehen. 

Undertake,  to  affirm,  P.  288;  lit- 
erally to  take  upon  one's  self; 
cf.  imdertakimj . 

Unknowe  (pp),  unknown,  P. 
126,  K.  548. 

Unkonnyng,  ignorant,  inex- 
perienced, K.  1535  ;  cunning  = 
knowing.  A.S.  cunnan,  to  know. 

Unset,  not  previously  agreed 
upon,  K.  666. 

Unto,  till,  until,  K.  286.  Goth. 
unte. 

Untressed, unfastened,  unbraided, 
K.  1431.     See  Tresse. 

Untrewe,  untruly,  P.  735. 

Unwist,  unknown,  K.  2119.  A.S. 
whan. 

Unyolden  (p.p.),  unyielded,  un- 
conquered,  K.  1784.  A.S.  gyl- 
dan,  to  pay. 

Up,  upon,  K.  849. 

Up-haf  (pr.  o{  up-heve),  raised  up, 
K.  1570.     A.S.  hebban. 

Upright,  lying  upon  the  back,  K. 
1150.     A.S.  ujy-areht,  erect. 

Upriste,  uprising,  K.  193. 

Up-so-doun,  upsidedown,  K.  519. 
So  is  the  old  relative  siva,  cor- 
rupted into  side  by  a  false  ety- 
mology. 


Upsterte,  .started   up,  arose,  K. 

441  ;  cf.  n(jnn,  upstart. 
Up-yaf  (pr.  of  up-</ive),  gave  up, 

sent  u]),  K.  1569. 
Usage,  experience,  K.  1590.  Lat. 

Utterly,  wholly,  K.  296,  705.  A.S. 
ufor,  comp.  of  ut.  From  the 
idea  of  remoteness  or  extremity 
readily  passing  to  the  idea  of 
completion. 

V. 

Vasselage,  service  as  a  vassal, 
valor,  K.  2196  ;  from  W.  i/was, 
a  youth,  arose  the  Mid.  Lat. 
vassus,  a  retainer,  a  vassal. 

Vavasour,  one  next  in  dignity  to 
a  baron,  P.  360.  Allied  to  vas- 
sal, valet. 

Veil,  a  vail,  P.  695;  strictly  the 
sail  of  a  ship.  Lat.  velum  (vehu- 
lum),  from  vehcre,  to  carry. 

Venerye,  hunting,  tlie  chase,  P. 
166,  K.  1450.  Lat.  venari ;  cf. 
venison  ^  game  taken  in  hunt- 
ing ;  so  used  in  Gen.  xxvii.  3. 

Ventusyng,  cupping,  K.  1889. 
Lat.  rentiis,  the  blood  being  ex- 
tracted by  atmospheric  press- 
ure. 

Venym,  venom,  poison,  K.  1893. 
Lat.  venennm,  poison. 

Verdite,  decision,  verdict,  P.  787. 
Lat.  vere-dictam. 

Vernicle,  a  handkerchief  having 
upon  it  a  picture  of  Christ,  P. 
685.     See  note. 

Verraily,  truly,  P.  338.  Fr.  vrai, 
Lat.  vere. 

Verray,  true,  very,  P.  72.  Fr. 
vrai,  Lat.  rcrum. 

Vertu,  ability,  power,  K.  578, 
1391,  1891.  Fr.  vertu,  Lat.  vir- 
tus, from  vir,  a  man. 

Vertuous,  active,  energetic,  P. 
251  ;  upright,  virtuous,  P.  515. 
Lat.  vir. 

Vese,  a  storm,  a  rush  of  wind,  K. 
1127. 

Vestimentz,  garments,  vestments, 
K.  2090.  Goth,  wasti,  Lat.  vestis. 


3o8 


GLOSSAIilAL   INDEX. 


Veyn,   vain,    K.    236.     Fr.    vain, 

Lat.  nniHS,  cmj)ty. 
Veyne,  a  vein,  P.  o  ;  vci/ne  lilood, 

blood  of  the  veins,  bleeiling,  K. 

188y.      Lat.  vena. 
Viage,  a   voyage,  a  journey  by 

sea  or  land,  P.   77,  723.     Lat. 

vialiciun,   passage    money,    Fr. 

voi/a(/e. 
Victorie,  victory,   K.   1381.      Fr. 

victoire,  Lat.  vinccre,  to  conquer. 
Vigiles,  vigils,  a  religious  service 

held  in  tlie  evening,  P.  377  ;  see 

note.     Literally,  iratc/iiiii/s. 
Vileinye,  Vilonye,  ungentleinan- 

ly   conduct,    P.  70;   see   note; 

low  breeding,  P.  726  ;  depraved 

discourse,  1*.  740  ;  to  do  vilcimje, 

to  cause  disgrace,  K.  84. 
Visage,  countenance,  that  which 

is  seen,  P.  628.     Lat.  visas ;  cf. 

Ger.  f/&sirht. 
Visite,  to  go  to  see,  to  visit,  P. 

4'J3,  K.  336.     Lat.  videre,  to  see. 
VitaiUe,    victuals,    P.    248,    569, 

749.     Lat.  vicluulis,  from  vivere, 

to  live. 
Voucliesauf,  to  grant,  vouchsafe, 

P.  807.  812.     To  much  or  giuir- 

antee  safety.  Lat.  vocare  salrinn. 
Voyde,  to  exfjel,  evacuate,  throw 

out,  K.  1893. 

w. 

■Waar.     See  War. 

Wages,  wages,  promised  reward, 
K.  945.  A.S.  wed,  a  pledge, 
Lat  vas,  Mid.  Lat.  vadium,  Fr. 
(jage,  gages,  money  paid  to  a 
person  as  a  pledge  for  his  ser- 
vices. 

Waillyng,  mourning,  bewailing, 
K.  508.     Icel.  valla,  to  lament. 

Wake-pleyes,  funeral  games, 
games  played  while  watching 
the  dead,  K.  2102 ;  ivake  = 
watch.     A.S.  iracian. 

Wal,  a  wall,  K.  132.  A.S.  weall, 
Lat.  vallum. 

Walet,  a  wallet,  a  knapsack,  P. 
681  ;  cf.  Fr.  malletle,  dim.  of 
malle,  bag. 


Walk,  walking,  K.  211.  Sec 
note. 

Wan  (pr.  of  uy/n»e),  won,  earned, 
P.  442  ;  conquered,  K.  131. 

Wan,  pale,  K.  1598.  A.S.  wan, 
from  ivaiiian,  to  wane,  —  the 
appearance  of  one  in  waning 
health. 

Wandryng,  wandering,  wanton- 
ness ;  cf.  Cant.  T.  6237 ;  suffer- 
ing {'.),  P.  467.     See  note. 

Wane,  to  wane,  to  decrease,  K. 
1220.    A.S.  Wdiiian,  to  diminish. 

Wanhope,  despair,  K.  391.  Hope 
tiiat  lias  waned. 

Wantoun,  free,  unrestrained,  P. 
2(»8.  A.S.  !/'«;;  =  un,  itowen^^ 
educated,  from  lean,  to  train. 

Wantounesse,  wantonness,  af- 
fected nicety  that  seeks  to  be 
different  t'rom  otiiers,  P.  264. 

Wantyng,  missing,  lack,  K.  1807. 
A.S.  ii-ana,  deficiency. 

War,  Waar,  aware,  P.  157;  wary, 
cautious,  P.  309  ;  /  was  waar,  I 
was  aware,  I  perceived,  V.  157  ; 
he  was  ivar,  K.  38.  A.S.  ivai' ; 
cf   Tier,  u'ahren,  to  perceive 

Ward,  a  suffix  denoting  situation, 
direction,  P.  793 ;  see  note. 
A.S.  weard,  weardes ;  cf.  Lat. 
vertere,  to  turn. 

Ware,  to  warn,  to  beware,  P. 
662.     A.S.  wariiui. 

Waste,  wasted,  ruined,  K.  473. 
A.S.  weste,  Lat.  vastus. 

Wastel-breed,  fine  white  bread, 
P.  147.  A  S.  wist,  victual,  O.Fr. 
gasteau,  a  cake. 

Wawes,  waves,  K.  1100.  A.S. 
waeg,  ivae/ian,  to  wave,  wag. 

Wayke,  weak,  K.  29.  A.S.  wac, 
from  wican,  to  give  way,  Ger. 
iceichen. 

Waylle,  to  wail,  K.  73 ;  to  cry, 
ivu-la,  wo  ! 

Waymentyng,  wailing,  lamen- 
tation, K.  137,  1063.  O.Fr. 
iraimentcr,  to  lament,  cry,  woe! 

Wayte,  to  watch  for,  look  for,  P. 
525,  K.  364  ;  to  attend  to,  P. 
571.  A.S.  ivaeccan,  Ger.  wachten. 

Webbe,  a  weaver,  P.  362.     A.S. 


OLOSSARIAL   INDEX. 


309 


webha,   a   weaver,   irefaii,    Ger. 

Wi'hen,  to  weave ;  cf.  wife. 
Wedde,  a  pledge,  K.  360.     A.S. 

irciJ,  hence  weddimj,  wedlock. 
Wedden,  to  wed,  to  marry,  K. 

10,  974,  2240.     A.S.  weddian,  to 

covenant,  to  promise. 
Wede,  clotliing,  K.  148 ;  see  note. 

A.S.  wited. 
Weel,  well,  K.  68,    1265.     A.S. 

loael,  wel. 
Wei,  full,  very,  K.  653 ;  wel  better, 

much  better,  K.  396 ;  wel  neyh, 

very  nearly,  K.  472.     A.S.  wel, 

Ger.  ivold. 
Welaway,   alas !    K.    80.      A.S. 

wa-la-iva,  wo-oh-wo,  sometimes 

spelled  wdl-a-day. 
Welcome,  a  salutatory  interjec- 
tion, P.  762,  854.     A.S.  wilcume, 

loilcumian ,  to  greet. 
Wele,  weal,  wealth,  K.  37.     A.S. 

iveta,  from  well,  Ger.  wohl. 
Welle,    a    spring,   a  source,   K. 

1425.     A.S.  weall,  from  weallan, 

to  boil,  spring  up. 
Wende  (n)  (pr.   wente),  to  go,  to 

wend  (one's  way),  P.  16,  21,  K. 

1356,  1412.     A.S.  wendan,  Ger. 

ivenden. 
Wene   (pr.    wende),  to   ween,  to 

vainly  hope,    K.  411 ;   to   sup- 
pose,    think,    K.     797.      A.S. 

wenan,  to  hope,  to  think,  Goth. 

icenf/an,  Ger.  wcihien. 
Wenged,  winged,  K.  527. 
Wepe    (n),    (pr.    laeep,   ivep,    p.p. 

wepen),  to  weep,  to  weep  aloud, 

P.   144,   230,   K.    1487.      A.S. 

wepan,  Goth,  loopjan,  to  call,  to 

cry,  A.S.  icop,  outcry ;  cf.  ivhoop, 

war-ivhoop,  whoopinq-coiigh. 
Wepen  (pi.  wepne),  a  weapon,  K. 

733,  743.     A.S.  waepen. 
Were,  to  protect,  K.  1692.     A.S. 

irerian,  to  defend  ;  cf .  to  tvear. 
Were  (pr.    icerede),    to   wear,  P. 

75,  564.     A.S.  icerian. 
Werken,   Wirche,  to   work,   to 

act,    P.    779,    K.   1901.     A.S. 

wi/rcnn,  Ger.  werken. 
Wern  =  weren,   pi.   of    were,   P. 

591. 


Werre,  war,  P.  47,  K.  429.     Fr. 

guerre,  A.S.  waer,  ])u.  wcrre. 
Werreye,  to  make  war  upon,  K. 

626,   686.     O.Fr.   werrier,  from 

werre,  cpierre,  war. 
Werse,  worse,  K.  366'.    A.S.  wyrs, 

conip.  of  weM-,  bad. 
Werte,  a  wart,  P.  555.  A.S.  weart, 

Ger.  warze. 
Wessch  (pr.  of  wassche),  washed, 

K.  1425.     A.S.  wascan,  pr.  wosc. 
Wette  (pr.  ivette),  to  wet,  wetted, 

P.  129.     A.S.  waet. 
Wex,  wax,  P.  675.     A.S.  iveax. 
Wexe  (pr.  were),  to  increase,  to 

grow,    K.    504.      A.S.   iveaxan, 

pr.  iceox,    Ger.  wachsen,   Goth. 

icahsjan. 
Wexyng,  increasing,  growing,  K 

1220. 
Weye,  a  way,   P.  34,  467,  771. 

A.S.  weg,  Goth,  wigs,  Lat.  via. 
Weye,  to  consider,  to  weigh,  K. 

923.     A.S.  tvegnn,  to -move,  to 

weigh  ;    figuratively,    denoting 

mental  action.     Cf.  ponder,  de- 
liberate. 
Weyle,  to  wail,  K.  363.     To  cry, 

wa-la. 
Weymentynge,  lamentation,  K. 

44.     See  Waymentynge. 
Whan  (ne),    when,   P.    5;    whan 

that  =  when   (it  is  that),  P.  1, 

801. 
What,  why,  P.  184 ;  well  then ! 

P.  854 ;  in  what  respect,  K.  171. 

Lat.  quid;  ichat .  .  .  what,  partly 

.  .  .  partly,  K.  595.   Lat.  quid .  . 

quid. 
Wheel,  Whel,  a  wheel,   K.  67, 

1165.    A.S. /izpeo/,  allied  to  Goth, 

ivalwjan ;  Lat.  volvere,  Eng.  wal- 

loiv. 
Whelkes,  pimples,  swellings,  P. 

632.      A.S.    h'lvylca,   a   swollen 

vein ;  cf .  icale,  iveal,  irheal. 
Wher,   where,    K.    1952.      A.S. 

hwaer. 
Wher,  whether,  K.  990,  1394. 
Where,  in  what  place,  ivhere  as, 

where,   there   where,   K.   255; 

where  that,   where   (it  is   that), 

K.  39. 


3IO 


OLOSSARIAL   INDEX. 


Wherfore,  for  which,  K.  710. 

Wherwith,  with  what,  P.  302. 
Whether,    whether  that,   whether 
(it  is  that),  P.  570. 

Whether,  which  of  two,  K.  998, 
a  comp.  form  of  which. 

Which,  what,  wliat  sort  of,  P. 
40 ;  which  that,  who,  P.  796,  K. 
1206 ;  wliich,  K.  138 ;  which  a, 
what  sort  of  a,  K.  1817.  A.S. 
hipi/lic  hwylc^=  like  what. 

WhU(es),  whilst,  P.  35,  897. 
A.S.  hivil,  time;  cf.  awhile. 

Whilom,  formerly,  once,  P.  795, 
K.  1,  1545.  A.S.  hwilum,  dat. 
pi.  of  hicil ;  cf.  sekl-om. 

Whit,  Whyte,  wliite,  P.  238,  K. 
195.  A.S.  hwit,  Goth,  hweits, 
Ger.  weiss,  Sansc.  Qvita. 

Whoso,  whosoever,  P.  731.  A.S. 
swa-hwa-swa.  Swa  (so)  is  a  pro- 
noun ;  cf.  such,  swilc ;  Goth. 
swa-leiks  ;  cf.  Lat.  (jnisqitls. 

Widewe,  a  widow,  P.  253,  K. 
313.  A.S.  wiclnwe,  Lat.  vidua, 
Sansc.  vi-dhava  :=  without-hus- 
band. 

Wif,  a  woman,  wife,  P.  445. 
A.S.  wif,  from  wefan,  to  weave  : 
cf.  wif-nian,  woman,  ivaejimnn, 
weapon-man.  The  word  origi- 
nally denoted  sex  ratiier  than 
marriage.  Cf.  good-wife,  house- 
wife. 

Wight,  a  creature,  a  man,  P.  71, 
826.  A.S.  ^oiht,  Ger.  wicht ;  cf. 
ivhit,  aught. 

Wight,  weight,  K.  1287,  1662. 
A.S.  wiht,  from  wegan,  to  weigh. 

Wikke,  bad ;  physically  weak, 
morally  wicked,  K.  229.  A.S. 
wican,  to  be  weak,  swican,  to 
deceive;  cf.  wiccian,  to  bewitch. 

Wikkedly,  craftily  (using  the  arts 
of  tlie  wizard),  K.  877.  See 
note.  A.S.  wiccian,  to  enchant ; 
cf.  witch. 

Wilne,  to  desire,  wish,  K.  751, 
1256.     A.S.  wilnian. 

Wiltow,  wilt  thou,  K.  686. 

WUwe,  a  willow  tree,  K.  2064. 

Wind,  a  breeze,  wind,  P.  170. 
Root  iva,  to  blow. 


Wirche  (pr.  wroughte,  p.p.  wroght), 

to  work,  P.  497,  K.  154,  1901. 

A.S.  wyrcan,  pr.  worhte ;  cf.  Gr. 

Ipyov,  work. 
Wis  =  iwis,   certainly,   K.    1928. 

A.S.  gewis. 
W^isdom,     Wysdom,     Wisdam, 

learning,  P.  575.    A.S.  wisdom. 
Wise,  Wyse,  manner,  mode,  K. 

480, 1386.    A.S.  wise,  Ger.  weise; 

cf.  guise. 
Wisly,    certainly,    surely,   truly, 

K.    1005,    1376.       A.S.    wislice, 

Ger.  gewisslich. 
Wiste.     See  Wite. 
Wit,    judgment,    understanding, 

P.   279,   573,   746.      A.S.    wit, 

mind. 
Wite   (I,  he  wot,  thou  west,  we 

witen,  pr.   wiste),    to  know,    P. 

224,  280,  389,    K  298,  305,  936, 

976.     A.S.  witan ;  pr.  wiste;  cf. 

witty 
With,    with,    at   the   same   time 

with,  P.  856  ;  by,  P.  406,  705;  in 

composition  usually  =«</.7/».';/. 
Withalle,  besides   (with  all  the 

rest),  P.  127  ;  in  spite  of  all,  P. 

283. 
Withholde    (pp.),     maintained, 

lield  with,  P.  511. 
Withouten,  without,  P.  588,  783, 

K.  347  ;  besides,  P.  461.    A.S. 

withutan. 
Withsayn,  Withseie,  to  gainsay, 

to  speak   in  opposition  to,    P. 

805,  K.  282.     A.S.  wilh-saegi.en. 
Wityng,  knowledge,  iveeting.     K, 

753.     A.S.  witan,  to  know. 
Wive,  Wyve,  dat.  of  wife.     K. 

1002. 
Wodly,  fiercely,  madly,  K.  443. 

A.S.    ivod,    violent,    mad;    cf 

wadan,  to  go  with  force ;  Woden, 

Wednesday . 
Woful   (comp.   wofullere),  full  of 

woe,  unfortunate,  K.  205,  521, 

1198,  482. 
Wol  (e)   (2   pres.    wait,  pi     woln, 

wolle,  pr.  u'o/de,  pi.  wolden),  will, 

P.  27,  728  ;  wisli,  P.  803,  805, 

K.    31,    7l)6,    1263;    wolde    him 

schake     (subj.),     might      (did) 


QL08SARIAL   INDEX. 


311 


shake  him,  K.  615.  A.S  icil- 
lan,  ic,  he,  wille,  tliu  wilt ;  pi. 
willath  ;  pr.  s.  moldc,  pi.  woldoi). 
Wommanhede,  womanhood,  wo- 
manly feelhifi;,  K.  890. 

Wonder,  wonderful,  K.  1215 ; 
wonderfully,  P.  483,  K.  796.  A.S. 
wundor,  unindnun,  Ger.  wundcr. 

Wonderly,  wondrously,  P.  84. 
A.S.  jvundorlicc. 

Wone,  custom,  P.  335,  K.  182. 
A.S.  unme,  wunian,  Ger.  ivohnen, 
to  dwell. 

Wone  (pres.  p.  wonyng),  to  dwell, 
P.  388,  K.  2069.     A.S.  wunian. 

Wonyng,  a  dwelling,  P.  606. 
A.S.  wnnnng,  Ger.  wohnung. 

Woo,  wailing,  lamentation,  K. 
42 ;  an  exclamation  of  sorrow, 
P.  851.     A.S.  w(i,  Lat.  vae. 

Wood,  Wode,  mad,  furious,  P. 
184,  582,  K.  471.  A.S.  wod, 
Scot.  wild. 

Woode,  a  forest,  K.  664.  A.S. 
wudii. 

Woodebynde,  woodbine,  K.  650. 
A.S.  wndiihind. 

Woodecraft,  hunting,  P.  110. 

Woodnesse,  madness,  insane 
rage,  K.  1153.     A.S.  wodnes. 

Wook  (pr.  of  wake),  awoke,  K. 
635.     A.S.  ivacan,  pr.  ivoc. 

Woot,  Wot.     See  Wite. 

Worschipe,  honor,  K.  1046.  A.S. 
weorthscipe. 

Worschipe,  to  honor,  to  pay  re- 
gard to  the  loorth  of  one,  K.  1393. 

Worschipful,  honorable,  K.  577. 

Worstede,  a  woollen  cloth,  P. 
262.  So  named  from  Wurstead, 
the  town  where  it  was  first 
manufactured. 

Worth,  equal  in  worth  to,  P. 
182;  worth  while,  P.  785.  A.S. 
weorthe. 

Worthinesse,  bravery,  P.  50. 

W^orthy,  Worthi,  of  worth,  de- 
serving of  honor,  noble,  P.  43, 
1'17  ;  brave,  P.  68  ;  able,  P.  579. 

West.     See  Wite. 

Wrastle,  to  wrestle,  K.  2103. 
A.S.  wracstlian,  from  wraestan, 
to  writhe,  to  wrest. 


Wrastlynge,  wrestling,  P.  548. 
W^recche,     a     wretch,     K.     73  ; 

wretched,  K.  248.  A.S.  wraecca. 
Wrecchede,     wretched,    K.    63. 

A.S.  wraec. 
Wrcke,  to  avenge,  to  wreak,  K. 

103.     A.S.  wrccan. 
Wrethe,  a  wreath,  K.  1287.  A.S. 

irralh,  what  is  twisted. 
Wrighte,   a   mechanic,    P.    614. 

A.S.    wi/rlila,    from    wyrcan,    to 

work  ;  now  used  only  in  com- 
pounds ;  e.g.  wlied-wriijld. 
Writ,  a  writing,  Holi/  Writ,  tiie 

scriptures,  P.  739.     A.S.  writ. 
Wroth,    angry,    K.    321.      A.S. 

wntlh,  from  irrithan,  to  twist. 
Wroughte,Wroght.  SeeWirche. 
Wyd  (e),  spacious,  broad,  P.  28; 

large,  P.  491,  K.  897.    A.S.  wid,  ■ 

Ger.  iceil ;  cf .  void. 
Wyke,   a    week,   K.    681 ;  fyfty 

wiikt's  =  a  year,  K.  992.     A.  S. 

wice,  Ger.  ivoche. 
Wymmen,  women,  P.  213.     A.S. 

wifmen,    wefm,    to    weave ;    of. 

Ger.  weih,  from  weben. 
Wymple,  a  covering  for  the  neck, 

chin    and   face,    laid    in   folds, 

worn   by   nuns,   P.   151.     Ger. 

irinijK'/ ;  cf  ffimp. 
Wymple,  to  cover  with  a  wim- 
ple, P.  470. 
Wyn,  wine,   P.   334.     A.S.   win, 

Ger.     wein,    Lat.     vinum,     Gr. 

olvoQ. 
Windowe,  a  window,    K.    1130, 

i.e.   wind-door.     O.Norse,  vind- 

aiKja,  wind-eye ;  the  A.S.   was 

eac/diint,  eye-door. 
Wynne  (pr.  wan),  to  gain,  win,  P. 

427,  442  ;  to  gain  advantage  of 

one,   P.  594.     A.S.  winnan,  to 

toil,  get  by  labor. 
Wynnynge,  gains,  winnings,  P 

275. 
Wyppyltre,   the  cornel-tree,    K. 

2065. 
Wys,  affable,  well-mannered,  P. 

68;    (cf.  c/nise,  manners),  wise, 

skilled,  P.  309,  569.     A.S.  wis. 
Wyse.     See  Wise. 
Wyve.     See  Wive. 


312 


GLOSSARIAL   INDEX. 


Yaf  (pr.  of  give),  gKYe,  V.  177. 
Yate,  a  gate,  K.  557.     A.S.  (jat. 
Ybete    (p.p.     of    beat),     beaten, 
forged,  newe  ybnie,  newly  forged, 
K.  130^.     A.H.heatan. 
Ybrent  (p.p.  of  hrcniie),  burnt,  K. 

88.  A.S.  hrcnnan;  cf.  brand,  brown. 
Ybrought,  (p.p  ), brought,  K.  253. 
Yburied,   buried,    K.    88.      A.S. 

bijrii/an ;  cf.    Ger.    berr/en,    A.S. 

beoff/an,  to  liide,  Eng.  burrotn. 
Ycleped,    Yclept    (pp.    rJejH'n), 

called,   P.   376,   410.     A.S.   ,]e- 

clipod. 
Ycome,  come,  P.  77. 
Ycorve    (p.p.  of    kerve),   cut,   K. 

]  155.     A.S.  ceorfan. 
Ydel,  idle,   K.   1647.     A.S.    idel, 

vain,  Ger.  eilel. 
Ydoon-of,  doffed,  K.  1818. 
Ydrawe,  drawn,  P.  396,  Iv.  86. 
Ydropped,  bedropped,  bedewed, 

K.  -2026. 
Ydryve  (n)  (p.p.  oidryve),  driven, 

K.  1149. 
Ye,  the  eye,  K.  1149. 
Ye,  yea,  K.  809.     See  note. 
Yeddynges,     romances,     poetic 

tales,  P.  237.     A.S.  (jkldimi,  to 

sing. 
Yeeldyng,   the  yield,  return,  P. 

596.     A.S.  gijidan,  to  pay. 
Year,   Yer   (s.     &   pi.),   a  year, 

years,  P.  82,  GOl.     A.S.  cjear. 
YeldehaUe,  a  guild-hall,  the  room 

wjiere  a    corporation    or  (jiiild 

usually  met,  P.  870.    T)ar\.f/!lda, 

a  feast ;  cf.  company. 
Yelpe,   to   boast,   K.    1380;    see 

note.     A.S.  ge/pan,  Eng.  ijelp. 
Yelwe,    yellow,    P.  675.  '   A.S. 

f/rolmve,  Ger.  gelb ;  cf.  gold. 
Yeman,  a  yeoman,  P.  101.     See 

note. 
Ysrde,  a  rod,  P.  149 ;  see  note  ; 

a  yard  long,  K.  192.  AS.  gijrd. 
Yeve  (n),  Yive  (p.p.  yevc,  yevcn), 

to  give,  P.  223,  487,  k.  57.    A.S. 

gifan. 
Yl'ound,   found,    K.    353.      Ger. 

gefiinden. 


Ygrounde,    sharpened,     ground, 

K.  1691. 
Yholde  (pp.  of  hold),  considered, 

K.  1516;  held,  K.  2100. 
Yif,  if,  K.  412.     A.S.  gif,  Goth. 

y(d)ai,  ibai.     Sometimes  errone- 
ously referred  to  qifan,  to  give. 
Yifte,  a  gift,  K.  1340.     A.S.  gift. 
Yit,  yet,  in  addition,  besides,  P. 

70;  hitiierto,  K.   1056;  yit  now, 

just  now,  K.  298.     A.S.  qet. 
Ylik,  Yliche,   alike,   P.   592,  K. 

1876.     A.S.  gelic. 
Ymages,   images,   P.   418.     Lat. 

imago    (mimago),    imitari  (mimi- 

tiiri),  to  imitate. 
Ymaginacioun,    conception,     K. 

236 ;  see  note     Lat.  imaginatio. 
Ymaginyng,  conceiving,  plotting, 

K.  1137. 
Ymaked,  made,   K.    1997.     A.S. 

(jcmacod. 
Ymet,  met,  K.  1766. 
Ymeynd  (p.p.  ofinengp),  mingled, 

K.    1312.      A  S.    mengian,   Ger. 

nwngen,  to  mix  ;  cf.  mingle. 
Ynned,   lodged,    entertained,  K. 

1334.     A.S.  innian. 
Yolden  (p.p.  of  yeelde),   yielded, 

K.  2194.     A.H.'gyldan. 
YoUe,  to  yell,  to  cry  aloud,  K. 

1814.      A.S.   gy/Jan,  gieJlan,    to 

yell ;  cf.  g<dan,  to  sing. 
Yollyng,  yelling,  loud  crying,  K. 

420 ;  vidgo,  yowling. 
Yond,    there,    yonder,    K.    241. 

A.S.  geond,  Ger.  jen-er ;  cf  be- 
yond. 
Yong  (e),  young,  P.  7,  79,  213. 

A.S.  geong,  Ger.  Jung,  Lat.  jtt- 

rmts- 
Yore,  a  long  time,  ful  yore,  agon,  a 

very  long    lime '  ago,   K.   955. 

A.S.    gcara,   allied   to    gear,   a 

year. 
Youre  (gen.  pL),  of  you,  P.  783. 

A.S.  cower. 
Yourself  (pi.),  jj^ourselvcs,  K.  977. 
Youthe,    youth,    P.    613.       For. 

yniingtii,  which  form  is  used  by 

Spenser. 
You  (dat.  and  ace),  you,  P.  34, 

38.     A.S.  mw. 


GL0S8ABIAL  INDEX. 


313 


Ypayed,  paid,  K.  944. 

Yratt,  heiftt,  pluiulered,  K.  1157 ; 

iSL't'  note.      A.S.  reujiun. 
Yre,  aii^LT,  ire,  K.  1444.    Lat.  ira. 
Yronnen,    run    over,     K.     \boo. 

A.S.  b('-j/riiun. 
Ysene,  seen,  to  be  seen,  P.  592. 

A.y.  (/csiiwcn. 
Yserved,  served,  K.  105. 
Yslayn,    slain,    K.   1850.      A.S. 

(Jf'sldci/f'li. 
Yspreynd      (pp-       of      sjirciii/e), 

sprinkled   over,    seattered,    K. 

1311.  AS.  spremian,  to  sprinkle. 
Ystert,  escaped,  K.  734. 


Ystorve  (sec  Starve),  dead,  died, 
K.  115(5.  A.S.  steorjiin,  Ger. 
sttrl>i'ii. 

Yteyd,  tied,  T.  457.     A.S.  f/e-iead. 

Ytorned,  Yturned,  turned,  K. 
380,  1204.     Fr.  toiinwr. 

Ywrought  (p  ]).  of  iri/n/if),  made, 
vvr()uj,^lit,  1'.  TjO. 

Ywympled,  decked  with  a  wim- 
ple, r.  470. 


Zephyrus,     tlie    west     wind,     a 
zephyr,  a  gentle  breeze,  P.  5. 


OLD    AND    MIDDLE    ENGLISH. 


31 


ni  n    A n't\^?^^'^  Grammar  and  Reader. 

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30  OLD   AND    MIDDLE    ENGLISH. 

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31 


Carpenter's  Anglo-Saxon  Grammar  and  Reader. 

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A  study  in  Fifteenth  Century  Literature.  By  Charles  S.  Baldwin, 
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pages.    Mailing  price,  $1.50;  for  introduction,  .f  1.40. 

'PHE  Morte  d'Arthur  is  the  type  of  the  transitional  period  be- 
tween Chaucer  and  Shakespeare,  of  the  progress  of  middle 
English  toward  modern  English. 

/Elfred  the  Great's  Legal  Code. 

Edited,   with   an    Introduction,   by  Milton 
English  in  Hobart  College.     8vo.     Flexible  b 
Mailing  price,  .$1.05;  for  introduction,  $1.00. 

Observations    on   the  Language   of   Chaucer's 

Troilus. 

By  Professor  George  L.  Kittredge  of  Harvard  University.     8vo. 

Paper.    426  pages.    Price,  $4.00.     See  j^age  130. 


Edited,  with  an  Introduction,  by  Milton  H.  Turk,  Professor  of 
English  in  Hobart  College.  8vo.  Flexible  boards,  viii  +  147  pages. 
Mailing  price,  $1.05;  for  introduction,  .$1.00. 


BOOKS  USEFUL  TO  STUDENTS  OF 

ENGLISH     LITERATURE, 


Arnold's  English  Literature.     558  pages.     Price,  $1.50. 
Baker's  Plot-Book  of  Some  Elizabethan  Plays.     In  press. 
Baldwin's  Inflection  and  Syntax  of  Malory's  Morte  d' Arthur. 
Browne's  Shakspere's  Versification.     34  pages.     Price,  25  cts. 
Corson's  Primer  of  English  Verse.     232  pages.     Price,  $1.00. 
Emery's  Notes  on  English  Literature.     152  pages.     Price,  $1.00. 
Gamett's  Selections  in  English  Prose  from  Elizabeth  to  Victoria.     701 

pages.     Price,  $1.50. 
Gayley's  Classic  Myths  in  English  Literature.    540  pages.     Price,  $1.50. 
Gayley's  Introduction  to  Study  of  Literary  Criticism.     In  press. 
Gummere's  Handbook  of  Poetics.     250  pages.     Price,  $1.00. 
Hudson's  Life,  Art,  and  Characters  of  Shakespeare.    2  vols.    1003  pages. 

Price,  $4.00. 
Hudson's  Classical  English  Reader.     467  pages.     Price,  $1.00. 
Hudson's  Text-Book  of  Prose.     648  pages.     Price,  $1.25. 
Hudson's  Text-Book  of  Poetry.     704  pages.     Price,  $1.25. 
Hudson's  Essays  on  English  Studies  in  Shakespeare,  etc.     I'S  pages. 

Price,  25  cts. 
Lee's  Graphic  Chart  of  English  Literature.    25  cts. 
Minto's  Manual  of  English  Prose  Literature.     566  pages.     Price,  $1.50. 
Minto's  Characteristics  of  the  English  Poets.    (From  Chaucer  to  Shirley.) 

382  pages.     Price,  $1.50. 
Montgomery's  Heroic  Ballads.     Poems  of  War  and  Patriotism.     Edited 

with  Notes  by  D.  H.  Montgomery.     319  pages.     Boards,  40  cts.; 

Cloth,  50  cts. 
Phelps's   Beginnings  of   the  English  Romantic  Movement.     192  pages. 

Price,  $1.00. 
Sherman's  Analytics  of  Literature.     468  pages.     Price,  ;fi.25. 
Smith's  Synopsis  of  English  and  American  Literature.    125  pages.    Price, 

80  cts. 
Thayer's  Best  Elizabethan  Plays.     611  pages.     Price,  Jjii. 25. 
Thom's  Shakespeare  and  Chaucer  Examinations.   346  pages.    Price,  $1.00. 
White's  Philosophy  of  American  Literature.     66  pages.     Price,  30  cts. 
Winchester's   Five   Short   Courses   of    Reading   in   English    Literature. 

99  pages.     Price,  40  cents. 
Wylie's   Studies   in   the   Evolution   of  English   Criticism.      212   pages. 

Price,  jji.oo. 


Descriptive  Circulars  of  these  books  sent  postpaid  to  any  address. 


6INN  &  COMPANY,  Publishers,  Boston,  New  York,  and  Chicago. 


THE   CLASSIC  MYTHS 

IN 

ENGLISH    LITERATURE. 

liY  CHARLES    MILLS   GAYLEY, 

Professor  of  tlie  Englisli  Language  and  Literature  in  the  University  of  California 
and  formerly  Assistant-Professcr  of  Latin  in  the  University  of  Michigan. 


i2mo.     Half  leather.     540  pages.     For  introduction,  $1.50. 
Now  Edition  with  16  full-page  illustrations. 

This  work,  based  chicHy  on  Bulfinch's  "Age  of  Fable" 
(1855),  has  here  been  adapted  to  school  use  and  in  large 
part  rewritten.  It  is  recommended  both  as  the  best  manual 
of  mythology  and  as  indispensable  to  the  student  of  our 
literature. 

Special  features  of  this  edition  are  : 

1.  An  introduction  on  the  indebtedness  of  English  poetry  to  the 
literature  of  fable  ;  and  on  methods  of  teaching  mythology. 

2.  An  elementary  account  of  myth-making  and  of  the  principal 
poets  of  mythology,  and  of  the  beginnings  of  the  world,  of  gods  and 
of  men  among  the  Greeks. 

3.  A  thorough  revision  and  systematization  of  Bulfinch's  Stories  of 
Gods  and  Heroes  :  with  additional  stories,  and  with  selections  from 
English  poems  based  upon  the  myths. 

4.  Illustrative  cuts  from  Baumeister,  Roscher,  and  other  standard 
authorities  on  mythology. 

5.  The  requisite  maps. 

6.  Certain  necessary  modifications  in  Bulfinch's  treatment  of  the 
mythology  of  nations  other  than  the  Greeks  and  Romans. 

7.  Notes,  following  the  text  (as  in  the  school  editions  of  Latin  and 
Greek  authors),  containing  an  historical  and  interpretative  commentary 
upon  certain  myths,  supplementary  poetical  citations,  a  list  of  the  better 
known  allusions  to  mythological  fiction,  references  to  works  of  art, 
and  hints  to  teachers  and  students. 


GINN    &    COMPANY,    Publishers, 

Boston,  New  York,  and  Chicago. 


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3  1158  00458  9254 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

Los  Angeles 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


m 


m?.A  1979 

JUN  1 9 1986 


Form  L9-Series  444 


AA    000  365  360    7 


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mm 


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